title: COX-2 oxidative metabolism of endocannabinoids augments hippocampal synaptic plasticity.
abstract: Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are important endogenous lipid mediators in synaptic transmission and plasticity and are oxygenated by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) to form new types of prostaglandins. However, little is known about whether COX-2 oxidative metabolism of eCBs and their metabolites alter synaptic signaling. Here we demonstrate that increased COX-2 expression significantly enhances basal synaptic transmission and augments long-term potentiation (LTP) in the mouse hippocampus. This augmentation was inhibited in the presence of a selective COX-2 inhibitor or with deletion of the COX-2 gene. The CB(1) receptor-mediated depolarization-induced suppression of inhibition (DSI) was diminished when COX-2 expression was increased either with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation or transgenic neuronal over-expression of COX-2. Conversely, DSI was potentiated when COX-2 activity was pharmacologically or genetically inhibited. Interestingly, COX-2 oxidative metabolites of eCBs elevated LTP, an effect opposite to that of their parent molecules 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA). In addition, the ERK/MAPK and IP(3) pathways were found to mediate PGE(2)-G-induced enhancement of LTP. Our results indicate that COX-2 oxidative metabolism of eCBs is an important signaling pathway in modulation of synaptic transmission and plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Center of Excellence, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 2020 Gravier Street, Suite D, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andreasson
authors.forename: Chu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000235:genetics*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013569:Synapses / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human