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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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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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4719-7_11
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