Abstract

This study examined the ability of the endocannabinoids 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) and noladin ether as well as the synthetic cannabinoid CP-55,940 [(-)-cis-3-[2-hydroxy-4-(1,1-dimethylheptyl)phenyl]-trans-4-(3-hydroxypropyl) cyclohexanol] to regulate three intracellular effectors via CB2 receptors in transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells. Although the three agonists regulate all effectors with equivalent efficacy, the rank order of potencies differs depending on which effector is evaluated. Noladin ether and CP-55,940 most potently inhibit adenylyl cyclase, requiring higher concentrations to stimulate the extracellular signal-regulated kinase subgroup of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (extracellular signal-regulated kinase-mitogen-activated protein kinase; ERK-MAPK) and Ca²⁺-transients. In contrast, 2-AG most potently activates ERK-MAPK, necessitating greater concentrations to inhibit adenylyl cyclase and even higher amounts to stimulate Ca²⁺-transients. Endocannabinoids also seem to be more “efficient” agonists at CB2 receptors relative to synthetic agonists. 2-AG and noladin ether require occupancy of less than one-half the number of receptors to produce comparable regulation of adenylyl cyclase and ERK-MAPK, relative to the synthetic cannabinoid CP-55,940. The CB2 antagonist 6-iodo-2-methyl-1-[2-(4-morpholinyl)-ethyl]-1H-indol-3-yl](4-methoxyphenyl)-methanone (AM630) reverses the actions of all agonists except Ca²⁺-transient stimulation by 2-AG. However, the effect of 2-AG on Ca²⁺-transients is attenuated by a second CB2 antagonist N-[(1S)-endo-1,3,3-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl]-5-(4-chloro-3-methylphenyl)-1-(4-methylbenzyl)-1-pyrazole-3-carboxamide (SR144528). This suggests that 2-AG stimulates Ca²⁺-transients by binding to sites on CB2 receptors distinct from those occupied by AM630 and the other cannabinoids examined. Agonists produce no effects in pertussis toxin-treated cells. In summary, cannabinoid agonists distinctly bind to CB2 receptors and display different rank order of potencies and fractional receptor occupancies for regulation of intracellular effectors. These data provide direct evidence for agonist-directed trafficking of response by endocannabinoids acting at CB2 receptors.