title: Induction of preferential chemotaxis of unstimulated B-lymphocytes by 2-arachidonoylglycerol in immunized mice.
abstract: 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is an endogenous ligand for cannabinoid receptors. There are two types of cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. We investigated the chemotactic activity of 2-AG using mouse lymphocytes because cells in the immune system are known to express CB2 . Spleen cell migration toward 2-AG was observed, which was completely inhibited by SR144528, a CB2-specific antagonist. 2-AG has been reported to induce a preferential B cell chemotaxis. We examined whether there is any difference in responsiveness during the activation of B cells. When spleen cells from immunized mice were tested, naive B cells but not germinal center B cells (GL7-positive) were increased in the fraction attracted by 2-AG. Furthermore, when Peyer's patch lymphocytes were tested after oral administration of cholera toxin, the number of IgA* B cells was increased in the fraction attracted by 2-AG. These results suggested that 2-AG preferentially attracts unstimulated naive B cells rather than activated and/or class-switched B cells. This property may influence the structure of B cell compartments in secondary lymphoid tissues.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology and COE Program in the 21st Century, University of Shizuoka School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shizuoka, 422-8526, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanikawa
authors.forename: Kohta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurohane
authors.forename: Yasuyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005260:Female; D018858:Germinal Center; D005989:Glycerides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007114:Immunization; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000378:metabolism; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D013154:Spleen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2; C094503:glyceryl 2-arachidonate