Anandamide and decidual remodelling: COX-2 oxidative metabolism as a key regulator

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Almada, M (Author) Other; Piscitelli, F (Author) Other; Fonseca, BM (Author) Other; Di Marzo, V (Author) Other; Georgina Correia da Silva (Author) FFUP; Teixeira, N (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids

Vol. 1851

Pages: 1473-1481

ISSN: 1388-1981

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 11 Citations

Scopus - 14 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Biological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00G-NBB

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2015.08.011

Abstract (EN): Recently, endocannabinoids have emerged as signalling mediators in reproduction. It is widely accepted that anandamide (AEA) levels must be tightly regulated, and that a disturbance in AEA levels may impact decidual stability and regression. We have previously characterized the endocannabinoid machinery in rat decidual tissue and reported the pro-apoptotic action of AEA on rat decidual cells. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an inducible enzyme that plays a crucial role in early pregnancy, and is also a key modulator in the crosstalk between endocannabinoids and prostaglandins. On the other hand, AEA-oxidative metabolism by COX-2 is not merely a mean to inactivate its action, but it yields the formation of a new class of mediators, named prostaglandin-ethanolamides, or prostamides. In this study we found that AEA-induced apoptosis in decidual cells involves COX-2 metabolic pathway. AEA induced COX-2 expression through p38 MAPK, resulting in the formation of prostamide E2 (PME2). Our findings also suggest that AEA-induced effect is associated with NF-kappa B activation. Finally, we describe the involvement of PME2 in the induction of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway in rat decidual cells. Altogether, our findings highlight the role of COX-2 as a gatekeeper in the uterine environment and clarify the impact of the deregulation of AEA levels on the decidual remodelling process.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9