Fatty acid amide hydrolase is a key regulator of endocannabinoid-induced myocardial tissue injury

Partha Mukhopadhyay, Bela Horváth, Mohanraj Rajesh, Shingo Matsumoto, Keita Saito, Sándor Bátkai, Vivek Patel, Galin Tanchian, Rachel Y. Gao, Benjamin F. Cravatt, György Haskó, Pál Pacher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

71 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Previous studies have suggested that increased levels of endocannabinoids in various cardiovascular disorders (e.g., various forms of shock, cardiomyopathies, atherosclerosis) through the activation of CB1 cannabinoid receptors may promote cardiovascular dysfunction and tissue injury. We have investigated the role of the main endocannabinoid anandamide- metabolizing enzyme (fatty acid amide hydrolase; FAAH) in myocardial injury induced by an important chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin (DOX; known for its cardiotoxicity mediated by increased reactive oxygen and nitrogen species generation), using well-established acute and chronic cardiomyopathy models in mice. The DOX-induced myocardial oxidative/nitrative stress (increased 4-hydroxynonenal, protein carbonyl, and nitrotyrosine levels and decreased glutathione content) correlated with multiple cell death markers, which were enhanced in FAAH knockout mice exhibiting significantly increased DOX-induced mortality and cardiac dysfunction compared to their wild type. The effects of DOX in FAAH knockouts were attenuated by CB1 receptor antagonists. Furthermore, anandamide induced enhanced cell death in human cardiomyocytes pretreated with FAAH inhibitor and enhanced sensitivity to ROS generation in inflammatory cells of FAAH knockouts. These results suggest that in pathological conditions associated with acute oxidative/nitrative stress FAAH plays a key role in controlling the tissue injury that is, at least in part, mediated by the activation of CB1 receptors by endocannabinoids.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)179-195
Number of pages17
JournalFree Radical Biology and Medicine
Volume50
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 1 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cannabinoid receptors
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Cell death
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Free radicals
  • Nitrosative stress
  • Oxidative stress

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology (medical)

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