title: Anandamide extends platelets survival through CB(1)-dependent Akt signaling.
abstract: Platelets are stored at 22 degrees C, since incubation at 37 degrees C results in loss of viability. Nonetheless, in our body (37 degrees C), platelets survive for 8-10 days. This discrepancy has been explained in terms of deprivation of viability factors or accumulation of apoptotic factors during storage. We report that the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) may be one of the agents allowing platelet survival. In fact, at 37 degrees C, human platelets enhance the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins (caspases, Bax, Bak) and decrease the expression of Bcl-xL, thus changing the Bcl-xL/Bak ratio, a key platelet biological clock. AEA or its non-hydrolyzable analogue, methanandamide, extend platelet life span, without reversing the changes in Bcl-xL/Bak ratio induced by heat stress. Instead, AEA binding to type-1 cannabinoid receptor activates Akt, which regulates, through phosphorylation of Bad, the interactions among different Bcl-2 family members. These findings could have implications for platelet collection and, potentially, for their clinical use.
authors: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
authors: Maria Valeria
authors: MV
authors: Catani
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Gasperi
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Evangelista
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Finazzi Agrò
authors: Luciana
authors: L
authors: Avigliano
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Maccarrone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D001793:Blood Preservation; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D006801:Humans; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013048:Specimen Handling
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; C088155:methanandamide; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; C078814:anandamide