GPR55 ligands promote receptor coupling to multiple signalling pathways

Christopher M. Henstridge, Nariman A. B. Balenga, Ralf Schroeder, Julia K. Kargl, Wolfgang Platzer, Lene Martini, Simon Arthur, June Penman, Jennifer L. Whistler, Evi Kostenis, Maria Waldhoer, Andrew J. Irving

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    169 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background and purpose:

    Although GPR55 is potently activated by the endogenous lysophospholipid, L-alpha-lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI), it is also thought to be sensitive to a number of cannabinoid ligands, including the prototypic CB1 receptor antagonists AM251 and SR141716A (Rimonabant (R)). In this study we have used a range of functional assays to compare the pharmacological activity of selected cannabinoid ligands, AM251, AM281 and SR141716A with LPI in a HEK293 cell line engineered to stably express recombinant, human GPR55.

    Experimental approach:

    We evaluated Ca2+ signalling, stimulation of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2) mitogen activated kinase MAP-kinases, induction of transcriptional regulators that are downstream of GPR55, including nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), as well as receptor endocytosis. In addition, we assessed the suitability of a novel, label-free assay for GPR55 ligands that involves optical measurement of dynamic mass redistribution following receptor activation.

    Key results:

    GPR55 linked to a range of downstream signalling events and that the activity of GPR55 ligands was influenced by the functional assay employed, with differences in potency and efficacy observed.

    Conclusions and implications:

    Our data help to resolve some of the issues surrounding the pharmacology of cannabinoid ligands at GPR55 and highlight some differences in effector coupling associated with distinct GPR55 ligands.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)604-614
    Number of pages11
    JournalBritish Journal of Pharmacology
    Volume160
    Issue number3
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jun 2010

    Keywords

    • GPR55
    • GPCR
    • cannabinoid
    • LPI
    • CANNABINOID RECEPTOR
    • IDENTIFICATION
    • ACTIVATION
    • BIOSENSOR
    • CELLS

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'GPR55 ligands promote receptor coupling to multiple signalling pathways'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this