Open AccessEndocannabinoids Inhibit the Growth of Free-Living Amoebae
Author(s) -
Rafik Dey,
Pierre Pernin,
Jacques Bodennec
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.01825-09
Subject(s) - endocannabinoid system , biology , cannabinoid receptor , biochemistry , ethanolamines , in vitro , cannabinoid , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , receptor , ethanolamine , antagonist
The cannabinoid Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol inhibits the growth of some pathogenic amoebae in vitro and exacerbates amoebic encephalitis in animal models. However, the effects of endogenous cannabinoids on amoebae remain unknown. Therefore, we tested several endocannabinoids (N-acyl ethanolamines and 2-O-acyl glycerol) on different genera of amoebae. The results showed that all of the endocannabinoids tested inhibit amoebic growth at subpharmacological doses, with 50% inhibitory concentrations ranging from 15 to 20 microM. A nonhydrolyzable endocannabinoid had similar effects, showing that the inhibition seen results from endocannabinoids per se rather than from a catabolic product.
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