Cannabinoids down-regulate PI3K/Akt and Erk signalling pathways and activate proapoptotic function of Bad protein.

Abstract

Cannabinoids were shown to induce apoptosis of glioma cells in vitro and tumor regression in vivo, but mechanisms of their antiproliferative action remain elusive. In the present studies, C6 cells were exposed to a synthetic cannabinoid, WIN 55,212-2, which produced down-regulation of the Akt and Erk signalling pathways prior to appearance of any sign of apoptosis. We hypothesized that cannabinoid-induced cell death may be mediated by a Bcl-2 family member--Bad, whose function is hampered by these kinases due to control of its phosphorylation state. Using Western blot analysis, we found that levels of phosphorylated Bad, but not total Bad protein, decreased under exposure to WIN 55,212-2. WIN 55,212-2 treatment further resulted in mitochondrial depolarization and activation of caspase cascade. Thus, we suggest that the increase of proapoptotic Bad activity is an important link between the inhibition of survival pathways and an onset of execution phase of cannabinoid-induced glioma cell death.

• Authors: Aleksandra Ellert-Miklaszewska, Bozena Kaminska, Liliana Konarska
• Journal: Cellular signalling (Cell Signal) Vol. 17 Issue 1 Pg. 25-37 (Jan 2005) ISSN: 0898-6568 [Print] England
• PMID: 15451022 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright 2004 Elsevier Inc.

Chemical References

• Bad protein, rat
• Benzoxazines
• Cannabinoids
• Carrier Proteins
• Morpholines
• Naphthalenes
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins
• bcl-Associated Death Protein
• (3R)-((2,3-dihydro-5-methyl-3-((4-morpholinyl)methyl)pyrrolo-(1,2,3-de)-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl)(1-naphthalenyl))methanone
• Akt1 protein, rat
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects, physiology)
• Benzoxazines
• Cannabinoids (pharmacology)
• Carrier Proteins (physiology)
• Cell Cycle (drug effects)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Gene Expression Regulation (drug effects)
• Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic (drug effects)
• Glioma
• Kinetics
• MAP Kinase Signaling System (drug effects, physiology)
• Morpholines (pharmacology)
• Naphthalenes (pharmacology)
• Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases (drug effects, metabolism)
• Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases (metabolism)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins (metabolism)
• Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
• Rats
• bcl-Associated Death Protein