Cholesterol as a modulator of cannabinoid receptor CB₂ signaling.

ABSTRACT: Signaling through integral membrane G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is influenced by lipid composition of cell membranes. By using novel high affinity ligands of human cannabinoid receptor CB₂, we demonstrate that cholesterol increases basal activation levels of the receptor and alters the pharmacological categorization of these ligands. Our results revealed that (2-(6-chloro-2-((2,2,3,3-tetramethylcyclopropane-1-carbonyl)imino)benzo[d]thiazol-3(2H)-yl)ethyl acetate ligand (MRI-2646) acts as a partial agonist of CB₂ in membranes devoid of cholesterol and as a neutral antagonist or a partial inverse agonist in cholesterol-containing membranes. The differential effects of a specific ligand on activation of CB₂ in different types of membranes may have impl

SUBMITTER: Yeliseev A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7881127 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature