Production of the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol by endothelial progenitor cells.

ABSTRACT: Recent studies have highlighted the importance of paracrine growth factors as mediators of pro-angiogenic effects by endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), but little is known about the release of lipid-based factors like endocannabinoids by EPCs. In the current study, the release of the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol by distinct human EPC sub-types was measured using HPLC/tandem mass-spectrometry. Anandamide release was highest by adult blood colony-forming EPCs at baseline and they also demonstrated increased 2-arachidonoylglycerol release with TNF-alpha stimulation. Treatment of mature endothelial cells with endocannabinoids significantly reduced the induction of the pro-inflammatory adhesion molecule CD106 (VCAM-1) by TNF-alpha.

SUBMITTER: Opitz CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2072933 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature