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Endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonylglycerol Protects Primary Cultured Neurons Against LPS-Induced Impairments in Rat Caudate Nucleus

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Abstract

Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of many diseases in the central nervous system. Caudate nucleus (CN), the largest nucleus in the brain, is also implicated in many neurological disorders. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), the most abundant endogenous cannabinoid and the true natural ligand for CB1 receptors, has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective effects through its anti-inflammatory action from proinflammatory stimuli in hippocampus. However, it is still not clear whether 2-AG is also able to protect CN neurons from proinflammation stimuli. In the present study, we discovered that 2-AG significantly protects CN neurons in culture against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response. 2-AG is capable of suppressing elevation of LPS-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression associated with ERK/p38MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway in CB1 receptor-dependant manner in primary cultured CN neurons. Moreover, 2-AG inhibits LPS-induced increase in voltage-gated sodium channel currents and hyperpolarizing shift of activation curves through CB1 receptor-dependant pathway. Our study suggests the therapeutic potential of 2-AG for the treatment of some inflammation-induced neurological disorders and pain.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 30970930).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, College of Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, 8 University Road, 443002, Yichang, Hubei, People’s Republic of China

    Yongli Lu, Fang Peng, Manman Dong & Hongwei Yang

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  1. Yongli Lu
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  2. Fang Peng
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  3. Manman Dong
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  4. Hongwei Yang
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Correspondence to Hongwei Yang.

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Lu, Y., Peng, F., Dong, M. et al. Endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonylglycerol Protects Primary Cultured Neurons Against LPS-Induced Impairments in Rat Caudate Nucleus. J Mol Neurosci 54, 49–58 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-014-0246-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-014-0246-2

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