title: Neuroprotective effects of the synthetic cannabinoid HU-210 in primary cortical neurons are mediated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT signaling.
abstract: Cannabinoids (CBs) are neuroprotective in vivo and in vitro, but the mechanisms of their actions are unknown. The aim of this study was to elucidate the signaling pathways that mediate the protective effect of CBs on primary cultured neurons. The neurotoxin S-AMPA induced significant death of rat primary cortical neurons, which was inhibited by the CB agonist HU-210. Antagonists selective for CB(1) or CB(2) receptors (AM 281 or AM 630, respectively) reversed the neuroprotective effect of HU-210 on S-AMPA-induced cell death. HU-210 triggered activation of AKT, but not activation of the ERK1/2, JNK or p38 signaling pathways. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-K) inhibitors LY294002 and wortmannin prevented phosphorylation of AKT in response to HU-210, and reversed the neuroprotective effect of HU-210 on S-AMPA-induced excitotoxicity. Thus the PI 3-K/AKT signaling pathway mediates the neuroprotective effect of exogenous cannabinoids such as HU-210 in primary CNS neurons.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Molina-Holgado
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pinteaux
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heenan
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Rothwell
authors.forename: Rosemary M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gibson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D013759:Dronabinol; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009498:Neurotoxins; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2; C494920:Akt1 protein, rat; C062018:HU 211