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Anandamide induces apoptosis of PC‐12 cells: involvement of superoxide and caspase‐3
Author(s) -
Sarker Krishna Pada,
Obara Soichi,
Nakata Masanori,
Kitajima Isao,
Maruyama Ikuro
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(00)01425-3
Subject(s) - anandamide , superoxide , cannabinoid receptor , apoptosis , chemistry , intracellular , endocannabinoid system , cannabinoid , microbiology and biotechnology , dna fragmentation , programmed cell death , biochemistry , receptor , biology , enzyme , agonist
Anandamide (arachidonoylethanolamide), an endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligand has been suggested to have physiological role in mammalian nervous system. However, little is known about the role of anandamide on neuronal cells. Here, we demonstrate that anandamide causes death of PC‐12 cells, showing marked DNA condensation and fragmentation, appearance of cells at sub‐G 0 /G 1 and redistribution of phosphatidyl serine, the hallmark features of apoptosis. Anandamide raised intracellular superoxide level and CPP32‐like protease activity in PC‐12 cells markedly. Furthermore, antioxidant N ‐acetyl cysteine prevented anandamide‐induced superoxide anion formation and cell death, implying that intracellular superoxide is a novel mediator of anandamide‐induced apoptosis of PC‐12 cells.