title: Downregulation of class II transactivator (CIITA) expression by synthetic cannabinoid CP55,940.
abstract: Cannabinoid receptors are known to be expressed in microglia; however, their involvement in specific aspects of microglial immune function has not been demonstrated. Many effects of cannabinoids are mediated by two G-protein coupled receptors, designated CB1 and CB2. We have shown that the CB1 receptor is expressed in microglia that also express MHC class II antigen (J. Neuroimmunol. 82 (1998) 13-21). In our present study, we have analyzed the effect of cannabinoid agonist CP55,940 on MHC class II expression on the surface of IFN-gamma induced microglial cells by flow cytometry. CP55,940 blocked the class II MHC expression induced by IFN-gamma. It has been shown that the regulation of class II MHC genes occurs primarily at the transcriptional level, and a non-DNA binding protein, class II transactivator (CIITA), has been shown to be the master activator for class II transcription. We find that mRNA levels of CIITA are increased in IFN-gamma induced EOC 20 microglial cells and that this increase is almost entirely eliminated by the cannabinoid agonist CP55,940. These data suggests that cannabinoids affect MHC class II expression through actions on CIITA at the transcriptional level.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biotechnologie et Pharmacologie, CNRS UMR 5094, Montpellier, Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Celine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gongora
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hose
authors.forename: Terrence P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Debasish
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sinha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D003511:Cyclohexanols; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C083728:MHC class II transactivator protein; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D007371:Interferon-gamma; C054649:3-(2-hydroxy-4-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)phenyl)-4-(3-hydroxypropyl)cyclohexanol