 |
The Journal of Neuroscience, August 27, 2003, 23(21):7767-7775
Previous Article | Next Article 
Palmitoylethanolamide Increases after Focal Cerebral Ischemia and Potentiates Microglial Cell Motility
Allyn Franklin,1
Sophie Parmentier-Batteur,3
Lisa Walter,1
David A. Greenberg,3 and
Nephi Stella1,2
Departments of 1Pharmacology and
2Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of
Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, and 3Buck
Institute for Age Research, Novato, California 94945
Focal cerebral ischemia (FCI) induces rapid neuronal death in the ischemic
core, which gradually expands toward the penumbra, partly as the result of a
neuroinflammatory response. It is known that propagation of neuroinflammation
involves microglial cells, the resident macrophages of the brain, which are
highly motile when activated by specific signals. However, the signals that
increase microglial cell motility in response to FCI remain mostly
elusive.
Here, we tested the hypothesis that endocannabinoids mediate
neuroinflammation propagation by increasing microglial cell motility. We found
that, in mouse cerebral cortex, FCI greatly increases palmitoylethanolamide
(PEA), only moderately increases anandamide [arachidonylethanolamide (AEA)],
and does not affect 2-arachidonoylglycerol levels. We also found that PEA
potentiates AEA-induced microglial cell migration, without affecting other
steps of microglial activation, such as proliferation, particle engulfment,
and nitric oxide production. This potentiation of microglial cell migration by
PEA involves reduction in cAMP levels. In line with this, we provide evidence
that PEA acts through Gi/o-coupled receptors. Interestingly, these
receptors engaged by PEA are pharmacologically distinct from CB1
and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, as well as from the WIN and abn-CBD
(abnormal-cannabidiol) receptors, two recently identified cannabinoid
receptors.
Our results show that PEA and AEA increase after FCI and synergistically
enhance microglial cell motility. Because such a response could participate in
the propagation of the FCI-induced neuroinflammation within the CNS, and
because PEA is likely to act through its own receptor, a better understanding
of the receptor engaged by PEA may help guide the search for improved
therapies against neuroinflammation.
Key words: stroke; neuroinflammation; marijuana; lipids; nitric oxide; phagocytosis
Received May 2, 2003;
revised June 26, 2003;
accepted July 1, 2003.
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Shiratsuchi, M. Ichiki, Y. Okamoto, N. Ueda, N. Sugimoto, Y. Takuwa, and Y. Nakanishi
Inhibitory effect of N-palmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine on macrophage phagocytosis through inhibition of Rac1 and Cdc42
J. Biochem.,
January 1, 2009;
145(1):
43 - 50.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Ludanyi, L. Eross, S. Czirjak, J. Vajda, P. Halasz, M. Watanabe, M. Palkovits, Z. Magloczky, T. F. Freund, and I. Katona
Downregulation of the CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor and Related Molecular Elements of the Endocannabinoid System in Epileptic Human Hippocampus
J. Neurosci.,
March 19, 2008;
28(12):
2976 - 2990.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. Lombardi, G. Miglio, F. Varsaldi, A. Minassi, and G. Appendino
Oxyhomologation of the Amide Bond Potentiates Neuroprotective Effects of the Endolipid N-Palmitoylethanolamine
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.,
February 1, 2007;
320(2):
599 - 606.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Witting, L. Chen, E. Cudaback, A. Straiker, L. Walter, B. Rickman, T. Moller, C. Brosnan, and N. Stella
From the Cover: Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis disrupts endocannabinoid-mediated neuroprotection
PNAS,
April 18, 2006;
103(16):
6362 - 6367.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. Shohami and R. Mechoulam
Multiple sclerosis may disrupt endocannabinoid brain protection mechanism
PNAS,
April 18, 2006;
103(16):
6087 - 6088.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. H. Kim, S. J. Won, X. O. Mao, K. Jin, and D. A. Greenberg
Molecular Mechanisms of Cannabinoid Protection from Neuronal Excitotoxicity
Mol. Pharmacol.,
March 1, 2006;
69(3):
691 - 696.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. H. Kim, S. J. Won, X. O. Mao, K. Jin, and D. A. Greenberg
Involvement of Protein Kinase A in Cannabinoid Receptor-Mediated Protection from Oxidative Neuronal Injury
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.,
April 1, 2005;
313(1):
88 - 94.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. H. Lichtman, D. Leung, C. C. Shelton, A. Saghatelian, C. Hardouin, D. L. Boger, and B. F. Cravatt
Reversible Inhibitors of Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase That Promote Analgesia: Evidence for an Unprecedented Combination of Potency and Selectivity
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.,
November 1, 2004;
311(2):
441 - 448.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L. Walter, T. Dinh, and N. Stella
ATP Induces a Rapid and Pronounced Increase in 2-Arachidonoylglycerol Production by Astrocytes, a Response Limited by Monoacylglycerol Lipase
J. Neurosci.,
September 15, 2004;
24(37):
8068 - 8074.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Jin, L. Xie, S. H. Kim, S. Parmentier-Batteur, Y. Sun, X. O. Mao, J. Childs, and D. A. Greenberg
Defective Adult Neurogenesis in CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor Knockout Mice
Mol. Pharmacol.,
August 1, 2004;
66(2):
204 - 208.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
B. F. Cravatt, A. Saghatelian, E. G. Hawkins, A. B. Clement, M. H. Bracey, and A. H. Lichtman
Functional disassociation of the central and peripheral fatty acid amide signaling systems
PNAS,
July 20, 2004;
101(29):
10821 - 10826.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Witting, L. Walter, J. Wacker, T. Moller, and N. Stella
P2X7 receptors control 2-arachidonoylglycerol production by microglial cells
PNAS,
March 2, 2004;
101(9):
3214 - 3219.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
|

|