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Cannabinoid receptors distribution in mouse cortical plasma membrane compartments
Hajar Miranzadeh Mahabadi1, Haseeb Bhatti1,2, Robert B Laprairie3,4
1Department of Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology; College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, 105 Wiggins Road, Health Sciences Bldg. Room GD30.5, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 5E5, Canada.
Molecular Brain
|June 8, 2021
Summary
Cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 are found in non-raft membrane compartments in mouse brain tissue, differing from prior cell culture studies. This suggests specific compartmentalization of these important receptors in the central nervous system.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) activated by endocannabinoids.
- CB1 receptors are abundant in the CNS, regulating mood, appetite, and pain.
- CB2 receptors are mainly on immunomodulatory cells, impacting CNS and peripheral immunity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cellular localization of CB1 and CB2 receptors in mouse cortical tissue.
- To determine if these receptors reside in lipid raft or non-lipid raft membrane compartments.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of lipid raft and non-lipid raft plasma membrane fractions from mouse cortical tissue.
- Utilized cold non-ionic detergent and sucrose gradient centrifugation.
- Confirmed fraction purity using protein biomarkers: flotillin-1, caveolin-1, and transferrin receptor.
Main Results:
- Both CB1 and CB2 receptors were predominantly found in non-raft membrane compartments.
- This localization contrasts with previous findings in cultured cell lines.
- Demonstrated compartmentalization of CB1 and CB2 receptors within cortical tissue.
Conclusions:
- CB1 and CB2 receptors exhibit distinct compartmentalization in native cortical tissue.
- Findings challenge previous assumptions based on cell culture models.
- Further research is needed to explore the distribution of these receptors across different brain regions and cell types.
