title: Endogenous interleukin-1 receptor antagonist mediates anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective actions of cannabinoids in neurons and glia.
abstract: Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) is an important anti-inflammatory cytokine that blocks all known actions of IL-1 and markedly protects against experimentally induced ischemic, excitotoxic, and traumatic brain insults. Cannabinoids (CBs) also exert potent anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects, but the mechanisms of their actions are unknown. Here we tested the hypothesis that the actions of CBs are mediated by endogenous IL-1ra. We report for the first time that both CB1 and CB2 receptors modulate release of endogenous IL-1ra from primary cultured glial cells. Activation of CB1 or CB2 receptors increased lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-1ra release, and specific CB1 or CB2 antagonists blocked lipopolysaccharide-induced production of IL-1ra from glial cells. Comparison of neuronal cultures from wild-type mice and mice lacking IL-1ra (knock-out) indicates that endogenous IL-1ra is essential for the neuro-protective effects of CBs against excessive activation of glutamate receptors (excitotoxicity) in response to S-AMPA or NMDA. Similarly, analysis of mixed glial cultures from IL-1ra knock-out mice indicates that endogenous IL-1ra is required for the CB-induced inhibition of nitric oxide production in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide. These data suggest a novel neuroprotective mechanism of action for CBs in response to inflammatory or excitotoxic insults that is mediated by both CB1 and CB2 receptor-dependent pathways.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molina-Holgado
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinteaux
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Molina-Holgado
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guaza
authors.forename: Rosemary M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Rothwell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001892:Camphanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000077285:Rimonabant; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001892:Camphanes; D002186:Cannabinoids; C507764:Il1rn protein, mouse; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; C110630:SR 144528; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D000077285:Rimonabant