Glial expression of cannabinoid CB(2) receptors and fatty acid amide hydrolase are beta amyloid-linked events in Down's syndrome. Neuroscience 2008 Jan 02;151(1):104-10
Date
12/11/2007Pubmed ID
18068305DOI
10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.10.029Scopus ID
2-s2.0-37849049077 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 74 CitationsAbstract
Recent data suggest that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) may be involved in the glial response in different types of brain injury. Both acute and chronic insults seem to trigger a shift in the pattern of expression of some elements of this system from neuronal to glial. Specifically, data obtained in human brain tissue sections from Alzheimer's disease patients showed that the expression of cannabinoid receptors of the CB(2) type is induced in activated microglial cells while fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) expression is increased in reactive astrocytes. The present study was designed to determine the time-course of the shift from neuronal to glial induction in the expression of these proteins in Down's syndrome, sometimes referred to as a human model of Alzheimer-like beta-amyloid (Abeta) deposition. Here we present immunohistochemical evidence that both CB(2) receptors and FAAH enzyme are induced in Abeta plaque-associated microglia and astroglia, respectively, in Down's syndrome. These results suggest that the induction of these elements of the ECS contributes to, or is a result of, amyloid deposition and subsequent plaque formation. In addition, they confirm a striking differential pattern of distribution of FAAH and CB(2) receptors.
Author List
Núñez E, Benito C, Tolón RM, Hillard CJ, Griffin WS, Romero JAuthor
Cecilia J. Hillard PhD Associate Dean, Center Director, Professor in the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAmidohydrolases
Amyloid beta-Peptides
Brain
Brain Chemistry
Child
Down Syndrome
Female
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Infant, Newborn
Male
Middle Aged
Neuroglia
Plaque, Amyloid
Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2