Effects of peripheral cannabinoid receptor ligands on motility and polarization in neutrophil-like HL60 cells and human neutrophils

J Biol Chem. 2006 May 5;281(18):12908-18. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M510871200. Epub 2006 Mar 2.

Abstract

The possible role of the peripheral cannabinoid receptor (CB2) in neutrophil migration was investigated by using human promyelocytic HL60 cells differentiated into neutrophil-like cells and human neutrophils isolated from whole blood. Cell surface expression of CB2 on HL60 cells, on neutrophil-like HL60 cells, and on human neutrophils was confirmed by flow cytometry. Upon stimulation with either of the CB2 ligands JWH015 and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), neutrophil-like HL60 cells rapidly extended and retracted one or more pseudopods containing F-actin in different directions instead of developing front/rear polarity typically exhibited by migrating leukocytes. Activity of the Rho-GTPase RhoA decreased in response to CB2 stimulation, whereas Rac1, Rac2, and Cdc42 activity increased. Moreover, treatment of cells with RhoA-dependent protein kinase (p160-ROCK) inhibitor Y27632 yielded cytoskeletal organization similar to that of CB2-stimulated cells. In human neutrophils, neither JWH015 nor 2-AG induced motility or morphologic alterations. However, pretreatment of neutrophils with these ligands disrupted N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced front/rear polarization and migration and also substantially suppressed fMLP-induced RhoA activity. These results suggest that CB2 might play a role in regulating excessive inflammatory response by controlling RhoA activation, thereby suppressing neutrophil migration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Arachidonic Acids / pharmacology
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Movement
  • DNA / chemistry
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Glycerides / pharmacology
  • HL-60 Cells
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Neutrophil Activation
  • Neutrophils / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid / chemistry*
  • Signal Transduction
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / chemistry*

Substances

  • Actins
  • Arachidonic Acids
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Glycerides
  • Ligands
  • Receptors, Cannabinoid
  • glyceryl 2-arachidonate
  • DNA
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein