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Inhibition of Human Neutrophil Chemotaxis by Endogenous Cannabinoids and Phytocannabinoids: Evidence for a Site Distinct from CB₁ and CB₂

Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom

Here, we show a novel pharmacology for inhibition of human neutrophil migration by endocannabinoids, phytocannabinoids, and related compounds. The endocannabinoids virodhamine and N-arachidonoyl dopamine are potent inhibitors of N-formyl-L-methionyl-L-leucyl-L-phenylalanine-induced migration of human neutrophils, with IC₅₀ values of 0.2 and 8.80 nM, respectively. The endocannabinoid anandamide inhibits human neutrophil migration at nanomolar concentrations in a biphasic manner. The phytocannabinoid (-)-cannabidiol is a partial agonist, being 40 fold more potent than (+)-cannabidiol; abnormal-cannabidiol is a full agonist. Furthermore, the abnormal-cannabidiol (CBD) analog trans-4-[3-methyl-6-(1-methylethenyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-yl]-5-methyl-1,3-benzenediol (O-1602) inhibits migration, with an IC₅₀ value of 33 nM. This reported profile of agonist efficacy and potency parallels with the pharmacology of the novel "abnormal-cannabidiol" receptor or a related orphan G protein-coupled receptor, which are already known to modulate cell migration. Although having no effect alone, N-arachidonoyl L-serine attenuated inhibition of human neutrophil migration induced by anandamide, virodhamine, and abnormal-CBD. Our data also suggest that there is cross-talk/negative co-operativity between the cannabinoid CB₂ receptor and this novel target: CB₂ receptor antagonists significantly enhance the inhibition observed with anandamide and virodhamine. This study reveals that certain endogenous lipids, phytocannabinoids, and related ligands are potent inhibitors of human neutrophil migration, and it implicates a novel pharmacological target distinct from cannabinoid CB₁ and CB₂ receptors; this target is antagonized by the endogenous compound N-arachidonoyl L-serine. Furthermore, our findings have implications for the potential pharmacological manipulation of elements of the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of various inflammatory conditions.

Address correspondence to: Dr. Ruth A. Ross, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, Scotland, UK. E-mail: r.ross{at}abdn.ac.uk