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Pharmacological inhibition of endocannabinoid degradation modulates the expression of inflammatory mediators in the rat hypothalamus following an immunological stressor

Kerr, D.M.
; 
Byrke, N.N.
; 
Ford, G.K.
; 
Harhen, B.
; 
Harhen, B.
; 
Egan, L.J.
; 
Finn, David P.
; 
Roche, Michelle
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Identifiers
http://hdl.handle.net/10379/3176
 https://doi.org/10.13025/22395
Publication Date
2012
Keywords
Endocannabinoid, Anandamide, 2-AG, Cytokine, HPA axis
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Article
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Kerr DM, Burke NN, Ford GK, Connor TJ, Harhen B, Egan LP, Finn DP, Roche M (2012) 'Pharmacological inhibition of endocannabinoid degradation modulates the expression of inflammatory mediators in the rat hypothalamus following an immunological stressor'. Neuroscience, 204 :53-63.
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system is an important regulator of the nervous, neuroendocrine and immune systems, thus representing a novel therapeutic target for stress-related neuroinflammatory and psychiatric disorders. However, there is a paucity of data relating to the effects of endocannabinoids on neuroinflammatory mediators following an immune stress/challenge in vivo. This study investigated the effects of URB597, a selective inhibitor of fatty acid amine hydrolyase (FAAH), the enzyme that preferentially metabolises anandamide, on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced increases in the expression of immune mediators in the hypothalamus. Systemic administration of URB597 increased the levels of anandamide and the related N-acylethanolamines, N-palmitoyl ethanolamide and N-oleoyl ethanolamide, but not 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, in the hypothalamus and spleen. URB597 attenuated the LPS-induced increase in interleukin (IL)-1Beta expression while concurrently augmenting the LPS-induced increase in suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS)-3 expression. In addition, URB597 tended to enhance and reduce the LPS-induced increase in IL-6 and IL-10 mRNA expression respectively. LPS-induced increases in peripheral cytokine levels or plasma corticosterone were not altered by URB597. The present study provides evidence for a role for FAAH in the regulation of LPS-induced expression of inflammatory mediators in the hypothalamus. Improved understanding of endocannabinoidmediated regulation of neuroimmune function has fundamental physiological and potential therapeutic significance in the context of stress-related disorders.
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland
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Medicine (Scholarly Articles)