The endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol dysregulates the synthesis of proteins by the human syncytiotrophoblast

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Costa, MA (Author) Other; Fonseca, BM (Author) FFUP; Mendes, A (Author) Other; Braga, J (Author) Other; Teixeira, NA (Author) FFUP; Georgina Correia da Silva (Author) FFUP

Journal

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

Vol. 1861 No. 1

Pages: 205-212

ISSN: 1388-1981

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 5 Citations

Scopus - 9 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-24N

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2015.12.008

Abstract (EN): In recent years, endocannabinoids emerged as new players in various reproductive events. Recently, we demonstrated the involvement of 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) in human cytotrophoblast apoptosis and syncytialization. However, 2-AG impact in hormone production by the syncytiotrophoblast (hST) was never studied. In this work, we demonstrate that 2-AG activates cannabinoid (CB) receptors, exerting an inhibitory action on cyclic AMP/protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 pathways, and enhancing ERK 1/2 phosphorylation. Furthermore, 2-AG affects the synthesis of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), leptin, aromatase, 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3-beta-HSD), and placental protein 13 (PP13). These 2-AG effects are mediated by the activation of CB receptors, in a mechanism that may involve p38, ERK 1/2 and cAMP/PKA pathways, which participate in the regulation of placental proteins expression. To our knowledge, this is the first study that associates the endocannabinoid signalling and endocrine placental function, shedding light on a role for 2-AG in the complex network of molecules that orchestrate the production of placental proteins essential for the gestational success.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8