title: Angiogenesis: a new physiological role for N-arachidonoyl serine and GPR55?
abstract: N-arachidonoyl serine (ARA-S) is one of a number of acyl amino acids recently identified in mammalian tissues. It has been referred to as an endocannabinoid-like lipid largely based on its structural similarities with the endocannabinoid, N-arachidonoyl ethanolamide (anandamide). However, little is known about its potential physiological functions and receptor targets. In this issue of the British Journal of Pharmacology, Zhang and colleagues show that ARA-S is a potent inducer of endothelial cell proliferation and migration, and angiogenesis in vitro. Furthermore, this pro-angiogenic action is mediated, at least partly, by activation of the poorly characterized, G-protein-coupled GPR55 receptor. ARA-S, via GPR55, increases phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases and Akt, and vascular endothelial growth factor signalling. These exciting findings highlight the endothelium as an endogenous target for ARA-S and GPR55.
authors.affiliation: Division of Basic Medical Sciences, St George's University of London, London, UK. vho@sgul.ac.uk
authors.forename: W-S V
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D012694:Serine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; C509235:N-arachidonoyl L-serine; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D012694:Serine