Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41045323›Full record

ArticleArchives of toxicology2026

The synthetic cannabinoid THJ-2201 modulates mitochondrial activity and enhances mitochondrial recruitment to newly-forming neurites during neurodifferentiation of NG108-15 cells.

Rui Filipe Malheiro, Ana Catarina Costa, Helena Carmo, Félix Carvalho, João Pedro Silva

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Article in Archives of toxicology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Rui Filipe MalheiroApplied Molecular Biosciences Unit (UCIBIO), Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
Ana Catarina CostaNerve Regeneration Group, Instituto de Biologia Molecular E Celular (IBMC), Instituto de Investigação E Inovação Em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.
Helena CarmoApplied Molecular Biosciences Unit (UCIBIO), Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.
Félix CarvalhoApplied Molecular Biosciences Unit (UCIBIO), Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal. felixdc@ff.up.pt.
João Pedro SilvaApplied Molecular Biosciences Unit (UCIBIO), Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal. jpmsilva@ff.up.pt.ORCID 0000-0002-5656-0897

Funding

Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit UIDB/04378/2020Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit UIDP/04378/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia 2020.07135.BDFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia 2021.01789.CEECIND/CP1662/CT0014Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia COVID/BD/153330/2023Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029584Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia SFRH/BD/143926/2019i4HB LA/P/0140/2020
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) have been increasingly associated with neurodevelopmental impairment; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In particular, the impact of SCs on mitochondria during neurodifferentiation remains largely unexplored, despite the central role of these organelles in this process. Building upon our previous findings that THJ-2201, a widely used SC, enhances neurite outgrowth in NG108-15 neuroblastoma-glioma cells at biologically relevant concentrations (1 pM-1 μM), we investigated whether this SC influences mitochondrial function, morphology, and dynamics during neurodifferentiation. THJ-2201 exposure caused a 30-40% reduction in intracellular ATP levels in a CB1-dependent manner, along with a 20-30% decrease in TMRE retention during NG108-15 neurodifferentiation. Cells treated with 1 μM THJ-2201 failed to sustain the expected increase in VDAC levels (an indirect marker of mitochondrial mass) during regular differentiation. Concurrently, THJ-2201 elevated PGC-1α levels, a key regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, by disrupting its translocation to the nucleus. Expression of both fusion (Opa1, Mfn1, and Mfn2) and fission (Drp1 and Fis1) markers exhibited a less pronounced increase between 24 and 72 h in THJ-2201-treated cells. Mitochondrial morphology exhibited alterations in mean area, perimeter, branching, and circularity in the soma after 72 h exposure. Additionally, THJ-2201 reduced mitochondrial mobility in neurites without affecting their average speed or run length and led to a mitochondrial accumulation within neurites, as indicated by decreased Miro1 expression. Overall, these findings suggest that THJ-2201-induced mitochondrial remodelling and redistribution may transiently enhance local energy supply for neurite outgrowth, but at the expense of somatic mitochondrial function, resulting in an overall bioenergetic imbalance.

Indexed as

CannabinoidsHeterocyclic Compounds, 3-RingMitochondriaNeuritesAdenosine TriphosphateAnimalsCell DifferentiationCell Line, TumorMitochondrial DynamicsNeuronal OutgrowthPeroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alphaAdenosine TriphosphateCannabinoidsHeterocyclic Compounds, 3-RingPeroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alphaMitochondrial fusion and fissionMitochondrial mobilityMitochondrial morphologyNeurodevelopmentNew psychoactive substancesSubstances of abuse

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.