title: 2-Arachidonoylglycerol enhances the phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan by HL-60 cells differentiated into macrophage-like cells.
abstract: 2-Arachidonoylglycerol is an endogenous ligand for the cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2). While evidence is accumulating that the CB1 receptor plays important regulatory roles in various nervous tissues and cells, the physiological roles of the CB2 receptor, which is abundantly expressed in the immune system, are yet to be determined. In this study, we examined in detail the effect of 2-arachidonoylglycerol on the phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan by HL-60 cells that had differentiated into macrophage-like cells. We found that the addition of 2-arachidonoylglycerol augmented the phagocytosis of opsonized zymosan by the differentiated HL-60 cells. The effect was observed from 1 nM and increased with increasing concentrations of 2-arachidonoylglycerol. Treatment of the cells with SR144528 or pertussis toxin abolished the effect of 2-arachidonoylglycerol, indicating that the CB2 receptor and Gi/o are involved in the augmented phagocytosis. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase were also suggested to be involved; treatment of the cells with wortmannin or PD98059 abrogated the 2-arachidonoylglycerol-augmented phagocytosis. These results strongly suggest that 2-arachidonoylglycerol, derived from stimulated inflammatory cells, has an important role in augmenting the phagocytosis of invading microorganisms by macrophages/monocytes thereby stimulating inflammatory reactions and immune responses.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Teikyo University, Sagamiko, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Maiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gokoh
authors.forename: Seishi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Saori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: Takayuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sugiura
mesh_terms: D000730:Androstadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D001892:Camphanes / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D005989:Glycerides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D037342:Pertussis Toxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077191:Wortmannin; D015054:Zymosan / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D018821:CD18 Antigens; D001892:Camphanes; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides; D011720:Pyrazoles; C110630:SR 144528; C094503:glyceryl 2-arachidonate; D015054:Zymosan; D037342:Pertussis Toxin; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D000077191:Wortmannin