title: Expression analysis of cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 in B cells during pregnancy and their role on cytokine production.
abstract: The endocannabinoid system consists in a family of lipids that binds to and activates cannabinoid receptors. There are two receptors so far described, the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) and 2 (CB2). In the context of pregnancy, the endocannabinoid system was shown participates in different key aspects of reproductive events. B-lymphocytes are pleiotropic cells belonging to the adaptive arm of the immune system. Besides immunoglobulin production, B-lymphocytes were recently shown to be actively involved in antigen presentation as well as cytokine production, thus playing a central role in immunity. In this study we first aimed to characterize the expression of CB1 and CB2 receptors in B cells during pregnancy and then analyze the impact of their activation in term of cytokine production by B cells from pregnant and non-pregnant mice. We observed that the expression of CB1 and CB2 receptors in B-lymphocytes is differentially regulated during pregnancy. While CB2 expression is down regulated CB1 is augmented in B-lymphocytes of pregnant mice. Additionally, the treatment of activated B-lymphocytes with specific CB1 and CB2 agonists, showed a different response in term of cytokine production. Particularly, CB1 against boosted the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 by activated B-lymphocytes from pregnant mice.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, National Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wolfson
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Muzzio
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ehrhardt
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physiopathology of Pregnancy and Labor, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies, National Research Council, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zygmunt
authors.affiliation: Research Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; Laboratory for Immunology of Pregnancy, Center for Pharmacological and Botanical Studies (CEFYBO-CONICET-UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Institute of Health Sciences, National University Arturo Jauretche, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: fjensen@unaj.edu.ar.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011247:Pregnancy; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2; D016753:Interleukin-10