title: The extracellular regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 mediate cannabinoid-induced inhibition of gap junctional communication in endothelial cells.
abstract: 1. Cannabinoids are potent inhibitors of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF)-mediated relaxations. We set out to study the mechanism underlying this effect and the possible role of cannabinoid-induced changes in intercellular gap junction communication. 2. In cultured endothelial cells, Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC) and the cannabinoid receptor agonist HU210, increased the phosphorylation of extracellular regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and inhibited gap junctional communication, as determined by Lucifer Yellow dye transfer and electrical capacity measurements. 3. Delta(9)-THC elicited a pronounced increase in the phosphorylation of connexin 43, which was sensitive to PD98059 and U0126, two inhibitors of ERK1/2 activation. Inhibition of ERK1/2 also prevented the Delta(9)-THC-induced inhibition of gap junctional communication. 4. Delta(9)-THC prevented both the bradykinin-induced hyperpolarization and the nitric oxide and prostacyclin-independent relaxation of pre-contracted rings of porcine coronary artery. These effects were prevented by PD98059 as well as U0126. 5. In the absence of Delta(9)-THC, neither PD98059 nor U0126 affected the NO-mediated relaxation of coronary artery rings but both substances induced a leftward shift in the concentration - relaxation curve to bradykinin when diclofenac and N(omega)nitro-L-arginine were present. Moreover, PD98059 and U0126 prolonged the bradykinin-induced hyperpolarization of porcine coronary arteries, without affecting the magnitude of the response. 6. These results indicate that the cannabinoid-induced activation of ERK1/2, which leads to the phosphorylation of connexin 43 and inhibition of gap junctional communication, may partially account for the Delta(9)-THC-induced inhibition of EDHF-mediated relaxation. Moreover, the activation of ERK1/2 by endothelial cell agonists such as bradykinin, appears to exert a negative feedback inhibition on EDHF-mediated responses.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Kardiovaskuläre Physiologie, Klinikum der J.W. Goethe-Universität, Theodor-Stern-Kai-7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. R.Brandes@em.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Brandes
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Popp
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ott
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bredenkötter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wallner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Busse
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fleming
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors; D002186:Cannabinoids; C067410:endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization factor; D013759:Dronabinol; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C062018:HU 211