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Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone-Mediated Induction of Intracellular Signaling Pathways and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression Is Inhibited by the Activation of the Endocannabinoid System

Department of Pathobiochemistry (N.B., C.B.), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany; and Group Molecular Genetics of Behaviour (H.H., B.L.), Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Christian Behl, Department of Pathobiochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Medical School, 55099 Mainz, Germany. E-mail: cbehl{at}uni-mainz.de.

CRH receptor (CRHR) 1 and the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) are both G protein-coupled receptors. Activation of CRHR1 leads to increases in cAMP production and phosphorylation of the transcription factor cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB). In contrast, CB1 is negatively coupled to the cAMP signaling cascade. In this study, we analyzed a putative interaction between these two systems focusing on the regulation of the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a CREB-regulated gene. In situ hybridization revealed coexpression of CRHR1 and CB1 receptors in the granular layer of the cerebellum. Therefore, we analyzed the effects of CRH and the CB1 agonist WIN-55,212-2 on BDNF expression in primary cerebellar neurons from rats and mice. We observed that application of CRH for 48 h led to an increase in BDNF mRNA and protein levels. This effect was inhibited by WIN-55,212-2. At the level of intracellular signaling, short-term application of WIN-55,212-2 inhibited CRH-induced cAMP accumulation and CREB phosphorylation. Pharmacological analysis demonstrated that the CRHR1 antagonist R121919, the protein kinase A inhibitor H89, and the calcium chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid acetoxymethyl ester inhibited CRH-mediated BDNF expression. Moreover, depolarization-induced BDNF synthesis was also inhibited by long-term application of WIN-55,212-2 in wild-type mice but not in CB1-deficient mice. Thus, these data highlight an interaction between the CRH and the cannabinoid system in the regulation of BDNF expression by influencing cAMP and Ca²⁺ signaling pathways.

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