Costa M A
PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences by Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Reprod Toxicol. 2016 Jun;61:58-67. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.03.002. Epub 2016 Mar 8.
Cannabis sativa is the most consumed illegal drug around the world. Its consumption during pregnancy is associated with gestational complications, particularly with fetal growth restriction. Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are lipid molecules that act by activating the G-protein coupled cannabinoid receptors, which are also target of the phytocannabinoid Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The endocannabinoid system (ECS) participates in distinct biological processes, including pain, inflammation, neuroprotection, and several reproductive events. In addition, an abnormal expression of ECS is associated with infertility and miscarriages. This manuscript will review and discuss the expression of ECS in normal and pathological human placentas, and the role of eCBs and THC in trophoblast proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and function. The current evidence points towards a role of ECS in human placentation, shedding light on the contribution of the eCBs in the coordination of human placentation, and in the cellular mechanisms underlying the deleterious effects of cannabis consumption during pregnancy.
大麻是全球消费最为广泛的非法毒品。孕期吸食大麻与妊娠并发症相关，尤其是与胎儿生长受限有关。内源性大麻素（eCBs）是一类脂质分子，通过激活G蛋白偶联大麻素受体发挥作用，而这些受体也是植物大麻素Δ(9)-四氢大麻酚（THC）的作用靶点。内源性大麻素系统（ECS）参与多种生物学过程，包括疼痛、炎症、神经保护以及一些生殖事件。此外，ECS的异常表达与不孕和流产有关。本文将回顾和讨论ECS在正常和病理性人类胎盘中的表达，以及eCBs和THC在滋养层细胞增殖、凋亡、分化和功能中的作用。目前的证据表明ECS在人类胎盘形成中发挥作用，这为eCBs在协调人类胎盘形成以及孕期吸食大麻产生有害影响的细胞机制中的作用提供了线索。
