The endocannabinoid anandamide protects neurons during CNS inflammation by induction of MKP-1 in microglial cells

TitleThe endocannabinoid anandamide protects neurons during CNS inflammation by induction of MKP-1 in microglial cells
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsEljaschewitsch, E, Witting, A, Mawrin, C, Lee, T, Schmidt, PM, Wolf, S, Hoertnagl, H, Raine, CS, Schneider-Stock, R, Nitsch, R, Ullrich, O
JournalNeuron
Volume49
Pagination67-79
Date Published2006
KeywordsAdult, Animals, Arachidonic Acids, Cell Cycle Proteins, Cell Survival, Cells, Cultured, Dual Specificity Phosphatase 1, Encephalitis, Endocannabinoids, External, Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases, Humans, Immediate-Early Proteins, MAP Kinase Sign
Abstract

Endocannabinoids are released after brain injury and believed to attenuate neuronal damage by binding to CB(1) receptors and protecting against excitotoxicity. Such excitotoxic brain lesions initially result in primary destruction of brain parenchyma, which attracts macrophages and microglia. These inflammatory cells release toxic cytokines and free radicals, resulting in secondary neuronal damage. In this study, we show that the endocannabinoid system is highly activated during CNS inflammation and that the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) protects neurons from inflammatory damage by CB(1/2) receptor-mediated rapid induction of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) in microglial cells associated with histone H3 phoshorylation of the mkp-1 gene sequence. As a result, AEA-induced rapid MKP-1 expression switches off MAPK signal transduction in microglial cells activated by stimulation of pattern recognition receptors. The release of AEA in injured CNS tissue might therefore represent a new mechanism of neuro-immune communication during CNS injury, which controls and limits immune response after primary CNS damage.

URLhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16387640