CB1 cannabinoid receptors promote oxidative stress and cell death in murine models of doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy and in human cardiomyocytes.

Abstract

AIMS:

Here we investigated the mechanisms by which cardiovascular CB1 cannabinoid receptors may modulate the cardiac dysfunction, oxidative stress, and interrelated cell death pathways associated with acute/chronic cardiomyopathy induced by the widely used anti-tumour compound doxorubicin (DOX).

METHODS AND RESULTS:

Both load-dependent and -independent indices of left-ventricular function were measured by the Millar pressure-volume conductance system. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, cell-death markers, and oxidative/nitrosative stress were measured by molecular biology/biochemical methods and flow cytometry. DOX induced left-ventricular dysfunction, oxidative/nitrosative stress coupled with impaired antioxidant defense, activation of MAPK (p38 and JNK), and cell death and/or fibrosis in hearts of wide-type mice (CB1(+/+)), and these effects were markedly attenuated in CB1 knockouts (CB1(-/-)). In human primary cardiomyocytes expressing CB1 receptors (demonstrated by RT-PCR, western immunoblot, and flow cytometry) DOX, likewise the CB1 receptor agonist HU210 and the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA), induced MAPK activation and cell death. The DOX-induced MAPK activation and cell death were significantly enhanced when DOX was co-administered with CB1 agonists AEA or HU210. Remarkably, cell death and MAPK activation induced by AEA, HU210, and DOX +/- AEA/HU210 were largely attenuated by either CB1 antagonists (rimonabant and AM281) or by inhibitors of p38 and JNK MAPKs. Furthermore, AEA or HU210 in primary human cardiomyocytes triggered increased reactive oxygen species generation.

CONCLUSION:

CB1 activation in cardiomyocytes may amplify the reactive oxygen/nitrogen species-MAPK activation-cell death pathway in pathological conditions when the endocannabinoid synthetic or metabolic pathways are dysregulated by excessive inflammation and/or oxidative/nitrosative stress, which may contribute to the pathophysiology of various cardiovascular diseases.

• Authors: Partha Mukhopadhyay, Mohanraj Rajesh, Sándor Bátkai, Vivek Patel, Yoshihiro Kashiwaya, Lucas Liaudet, Oleg V Evgenov, Ken Mackie, György Haskó, Pál Pacher
• Journal: Cardiovascular research (Cardiovasc Res) Vol. 85 Issue 4 Pg. 773-84 (Mar 01 2010) ISSN: 1755-3245 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19942623 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
• Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators
• Reactive Nitrogen Species
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
• Doxorubicin
• Cytochromes c
• Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases
• Casp3 protein, mouse
• Casp7 protein, mouse
• Caspase 3
• Caspase 7
• Amidohydrolases
• fatty-acid amide hydrolase

Topics

• Amidohydrolases (metabolism)
• Animals
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic (toxicity)
• Apoptosis (physiology)
• Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators (metabolism)
• Cardiomyopathies (chemically induced, metabolism, pathology)
• Caspase 3 (metabolism)
• Caspase 7 (metabolism)
• Cells, Cultured
• Cytochromes c (metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Doxorubicin (toxicity)
• Endomyocardial Fibrosis (chemically induced, metabolism, pathology)
• Humans
• MAP Kinase Signaling System (physiology)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Knockout
• Myocytes, Cardiac (cytology, metabolism)
• Oxidative Stress (physiology)
• Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases (metabolism)
• Reactive Nitrogen Species (metabolism)
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)
• Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 (genetics, metabolism)
• Ventricular Function, Left (physiology)