HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Stefano, G. B. Articles by Goligorsky, M. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Stefano, G. B. Articles by Goligorsky, M. S. Social Bookmarking                      What's this?

Volume 271, Number 32, Issue of August 9, 1996 pp. 19238-19242
©1996 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

---

Cannabinoid Receptors Are Coupled to Nitric Oxide Release in Invertebrate Immunocytes, Microglia, and Human Monocytes

(Received for publication, April 1, 1996)

George B. Stefano ^§ , Yu Liu and Michael S. Goligorsky ^§

From the  Neuroscience Research Institute, State University of New York, Old Westbury, New York 11568 and Departments of ^§ Physiology and  Medicine, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York 11794

The present study demonstrates that stereoselective binding sites for anandamide, a naturally occurring cannabinoid substance, can be found in invertebrate immunocytes and microglia. The anandamide-binding site is monophasic and of high affinity, exhibiting a K_d of 34.3 nM with a B_max of 441 fmol/mg protein. These sites are highly selective, as demonstrated by the inability of other types of signaling molecules to displace [³H]anandamide. Furthermore, this binding site is coupled to nitric oxide release in the invertebrate tissues examined as well as in human monocytes. Interestingly, the cannabinoid-stimulated release of nitric oxide initiates cell rounding. Thus, these cannabinoid actions resemble those of opiate alkaloids. In this regard, we demonstrate that these signaling systems use the same effector system, i.e. nitric oxide release, but separate receptors. Last, the presence of a cannabinoid receptor in selected evolutionary diverse organisms indicates that this signaling system has been conserved for more than 500 million years.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. L. Shoemaker, M. B. Ruckle, P. R. Mayeux, and P. L. Prather Agonist-Directed Trafficking of Response by Endocannabinoids Acting at CB2 Receptors J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., November 1, 2005; 315(2): 828 - 838. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Vannacci, L. Giannini, M. B. Passani, A. Di Felice, S. Pierpaoli, G. Zagli, O. Fantappie, R. Mazzanti, E. Masini, and P. F. Mannaioni The Endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonylglycerol Decreases the Immunological Activation of Guinea Pig Mast Cells: Involvement of Nitric Oxide and Eicosanoids J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., October 1, 2004; 311(1): 256 - 264. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Franklin, S. Parmentier-Batteur, L. Walter, D. A. Greenberg, and N. Stella Palmitoylethanolamide Increases after Focal Cerebral Ischemia and Potentiates Microglial Cell Motility J. Neurosci., August 27, 2003; 23(21): 7767 - 7775. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. B. Stefano, P. Cadet, K. Mantione, J. J. Cho, D. Jones, and W. Zhu Estrogen Signaling at the Cell Surface Coupled to Nitric Oxide Release in Mytilus edulis Nervous System Endocrinology, April 1, 2003; 144(4): 1234 - 1240. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. C. Howlett, F. Barth, T. I. Bonner, G. Cabral, P. Casellas, W. A. Devane, C. C. Felder, M. Herkenham, K. Mackie, B. R. Martin, et al. International Union of Pharmacology. XXVII. Classification of Cannabinoid Receptors Pharmacol. Rev., June 1, 2002; 54(2): 161 - 202. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Chen and J. Buck Cannabinoids Protect Cells from Oxidative Cell Death: A Receptor-Independent Mechanism J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., June 1, 2000; 293(3): 807 - 812. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Maccarrone, M. Bari, T. Lorenzon, T. Bisogno, V. Di Marzo, and A. Finazzi-Agro Anandamide Uptake by Human Endothelial Cells and Its Regulation by Nitric Oxide J. Biol. Chem., April 28, 2000; 275(18): 13484 - 13492. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Tripathy, B. J. Venables, and K. D. Chapman N-Acylethanolamines in Signal Transduction of Elicitor Perception. Attenuation of Alkalinization Response and Activation of Defense Gene Expression Plant Physiology, December 1, 1999; 121(4): 1299 - 1308. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				Y. Waksman, J. M. Olson, S. J. Carlisle, and G. A. Cabral The Central Cannabinoid Receptor (CB1) Mediates Inhibition of Nitric Oxide Production by Rat Microglial Cells J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., March 1, 1999; 288(3): 1357 - 1366. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Maccarrone, M. van der Stelt, A. Rossi, G. A. Veldink, J. F. G. Vliegenthart, and A. F. Agro Anandamide Hydrolysis by Human Cells in Culture and Brain J. Biol. Chem., November 27, 1998; 273(48): 32332 - 32339. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Yu, D. Ives, and C. S. Ramesha Synthesis of Prostaglandin E2 Ethanolamide from Anandamide by Cyclooxygenase-2 J. Biol. Chem., August 22, 1997; 272(34): 21181 - 21186. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Bisogno, S. Maurelli, D. Melck, L. De Petrocellis, and V. Di Marzo Biosynthesis, Uptake, and Degradation of Anandamide and Palmitoylethanolamide in Leukocytes J. Biol. Chem., February 7, 1997; 272(6): 3315 - 3323. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]