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Cannabinoid Signaling in Glioma Cells

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Glioma Signaling

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 986))

Abstract

Cannabinoids are a group of structurally heterogeneous but pharmacologically related compounds, including plant-derived cannabinoids, synthetic substances and endogenous cannabinoids, such as anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. Cannabinoids elicit a wide range of central and peripheral effects mostly mediated through cannabinoid receptors. There are two types of specific Gi/o-protein-coupled receptors cloned so far, called CB1 and CB2, although an existence of additional cannabinoid-binding receptors has been suggested. CB1 and CB2 differ in their predicted amino acid sequence, tissue distribution, physiological role and signaling mechanisms. Significant alterations of a balance in the cannabinoid system between the levels of endogenous ligands and their receptors occur during malignant transformation in various types of cancer, including gliomas. Cannabinoids exert anti-proliferative action in tumor cells. Induction of cell death by cannabinoid treatment relies on the generation of a pro-apoptotic sphingolipid ceramide and disruption of signaling pathways crucial for regulation of cellular proliferation, differentiation or apoptosis. Increased ceramide levels lead also to ER-stress and autophagy in drug-treated glioblastoma cells.

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Abbreviations

AEA:

Anandamide, arachidonoylethanolamide

2-AG:

2-Arachidonoylglycerol

Akt:

Protein kinase B/Akt

ATF4:

Activating transcription factor 4

cAMP:

Cylic adenosine monophosphate

CB1:

Cannabinoid receptor type 1

CB2:

Cannabinoid receptor type 2

CHOP:

The C/EBP-homologous protein

DAG:

Diacylglycerol

eIF2α:

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α

ER:

Endoplasmic reticulum

ERK1/2:

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2

FAAH:

Fatty acid amide hydrolase

IP3 :

Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate

LPS:

Lipopolysacharide

MAPK:

Mitogen-activated protein kinase

MEK:

MAP kinase-ERK kinase

MGL:

Monoacylglycerol lipase

mTORC1:

Mammalian target of rapamycin, complex 1

NAPE:

N-Arachidonylphosphatidylethanolamide

PI3K:

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

PIP2 :

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate

PKA:

Protein kinase A

PKC:

Protein kinase C

PLC:

Phospholipase C

Δ9-THC:

(−)-trans-Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol

TRB3:

Pseudo-kinase tribbles homologue 3

TRPV1:

Transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1, capsaicin or vanilloid receptor

WIN55,212-2:

Synthetic cannabinoid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Transcription Regulation, Department of Cell Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3, Pasteur Str., PL 02-093, Warsaw, Poland

    Aleksandra Ellert-Miklaszewska, Iwona Ciechomska & Bozena Kaminska

Authors
  1. Aleksandra Ellert-Miklaszewska
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  2. Iwona Ciechomska
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  3. Bozena Kaminska
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aleksandra Ellert-Miklaszewska .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Biochemistry, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Pasteur 3, Warsaw, 02-093, Poland

    Jolanta Barańska

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Ellert-Miklaszewska, A., Ciechomska, I., Kaminska, B. (2013). Cannabinoid Signaling in Glioma Cells. In: Barańska, J. (eds) Glioma Signaling. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 986. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4719-7_11

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