AUTHOR=Wang Jing , Wang Shenghong , Zhang Hua 

TITLE=Modulation of Astrocytic Glutamine Synthetase by Endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonoylglycerol in JNK-Independent Pathway

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pain Research

VOLUME=Volume 2 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pain-research/articles/10.3389/fpain.2021.682051

DOI=10.3389/fpain.2021.682051

ISSN=2673-561X

ABSTRACT=Background and objective: The glutamine synthetase (GS), an astrocyte-specific enzyme, plays an important role in neuroprotection through the glutamate/glutamine shutter and can be modulated by endocannabinoid 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) through ERK1/2 and p38 signaling pathways. However, the role of JNK signaling pathway in the modulation of GS in astrocytes by 2-AG is not clear. Material and methods: The expression of GS and JNK in astrocytes following lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-exposure was examined with western blotting and immunochemistry. Results: The results revealed that short-term exposure of LPS activated GS and increased phosphorylation of JNK in astrocytes in time-dependent manner. Treatment with 2-AG reversed the changes of GS but had no effect on JNK activation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the activation of JNK induced by LPS is not involved in the modulation of astrocytic GS by 2-AG.