2015 Jan 7. pii: e201439668. [Epub ahead of print]
Gabrielli M1, Battista N2, Riganti L1, Prada I3, Antonucci F1, Cantone L4, Matteoli M5, Maccarrone M6, Verderio C7.
Abstract
Endocannabinoids primarily influence neuronal synaptic communication within the nervous system. To exert their function, endocannabinoids need to travel across the intercellular space. However, how hydrophobic endocannabinoids cross cell membranes and move extracellularly remains an unresolved problem. Here, we show that endocannabinoids are secreted through extracellular membrane vesicles produced by microglial cells. We demonstrate that microglial extracellular vesicles carry on their surface N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA), which is able to stimulate type-1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1), and inhibit presynaptic transmission, in target GABAergic neurons. This is the first demonstration of a functional role of extracellular vesicular transport of endocannabinoids.© 2015 The Authors.
KEYWORDS:
CB1 receptor; GABA release; anandamide; extracellular vesicle; microglia‐neuron signaling
- PMID:
25568329
[PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
