Translational Study Using Human Abdominal Adipose Tissue Biopsies to Investigate the Role of Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1) in Controlling Endocannabinoid and Adipokine Secretion

Abdominal obesity and type 2 diabetes are associated with the hyperactivation of the endocannabinoid system. Several animal and human studies indicate that circulating endocannabinoid (EC) levels are correlated with body fat. Thus, adipose tissue, which possesses the enzymatic machinery for the synthesis of ECs, could be the main producer of plasma ECs.

Today, it is clearly established that stimulation of the endocannabinoid system, via activation of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1s) located in the brain, leads to increased food intake and weight gain. Moreover, peripheral CB1s present in organs such as the liver, muscles and adipose tissue are involved in the establishment of metabolic deregulations linked to obesity (steatosis, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia).

Thus, ECs produced by adipose tissue could play a key role in the regulation of carbohydrate-lipid homeostasis through their autocrine or paracrine actions by activating central and peripheral CB1s. Therefore, the objective of this study is to:

1. clarify whether obesity, associated or not with diabetes, leads to an overproduction of ECs (specifying which ones) by visceral or subcutaneous adipose tissue 2. to determine whether blocking CB1s with new peripherally acting antagonists can lead to a reduction in the production of ECs by adipose tissue.

This study will also provide an opportunity to evaluate the production of adipokines and cytokines involved in the control of energy homeostasis under the different experimental conditions.