title: CB1 cannabinoid receptors increase neuronal precursor proliferation through AKT/glycogen synthase kinase-3beta/beta-catenin signaling.
abstract: The endocannabinoid system is involved in the regulation of many physiological effects in the central and peripheral nervous system. Recent findings have demonstrated the presence of a functional endocannabinoid system within neuronal progenitors located in the hippocampus and ventricular/subventricular zone that participates in the regulation of cell proliferation. It is presently unknown whether the endocannabinoid system exerts a widespread effect on neuronal precursors from different neurogenic regions, and very little is known about the signaling by which it regulates neuronal precursor proliferation. Herein, we demonstrate the presence of cannabinoid CB(1) receptors in granule cell precursors (GCPs) during early cerebellar development. Activation of CB(1) receptors by HU-210 promoted GCP proliferation in vitro, an effect that was prevented by a selective CB(1) antagonist. Accordingly, in vivo experiments showed that GCP proliferation was increased by chronic HU-210 treatment and that in CB(1)-deficient mice cell proliferation was significantly lower than in wild-type littermates, indicating that the endocannabinoid system is physiologically involved in regulation of GCP proliferation. The pro-proliferative effect of cannabinoids in GCPs was mediated through the CB(1)/AKT/glycogen synthase kinase-3beta/beta-catenin pathway. Involvement of this pathway was also observed in cultures of neuronal precursors from the subventricular zone, suggesting that this pathway may be a general mechanism by which endocannabinoids regulate proliferation of neuronal precursors. These observations suggest that endocannabinoids constitute a new family of lipid signaling cues that may exert a widespread effect on neuronal precursor proliferation during brain development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, Piazza di Porta San Donato 2, 40126 Bologna.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Trazzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, Piazza di Porta San Donato 2, 40126 Bologna.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steger
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, Piazza di Porta San Donato 2, 40126 Bologna.
authors.forename: Valentina Maria
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Mitrugno
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, Piazza di Porta San Donato 2, 40126 Bologna.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bartesaghi
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and General Physiology, University of Bologna, Piazza di Porta San Donato 2, 40126 Bologna; Center for Applied Biomedical Research, S. Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, 40138 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: elisabetta.ciani@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ciani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000254:growth & development; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; D006720:Homozygote; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D051176:beta Catenin; D013759:Dronabinol; C000605506:GSK3B protein, human; D000071679:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; C000605507:Gsk3b protein, mouse; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D038362:Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; C062018:HU 211