Activation of cannabinoid receptor 2 protects rat hippocampal neurons against Aβ-induced neuronal toxicity

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a dementing, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by increased accumulation of beta-amyloid peptides (A beta), degeneration of hippocampal neurons and the gradual development of learning and memory deficits. Therapeutically, there are still no ideal medicines available and this represents an urgent need for the development of new strategies to treat AD. Emerging lines of evidence suggest that modulation of the cannabinoid system exhibits neuroprotective effects in various neurological diseases, including AD. However, a consensus is yet to emerge as to the impact of hippocampal cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) in protection of hippocampal neurons against 10 induced neuronal toxicity. Here, we report that chronic treatment of primary hippocampal neuronal cultures with 100 nM A beta(1-42) oligomers for 7 days results in neurotoxicity, which includes increases in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, suggesting an A beta(1-42)-induced neuron apoptosis. Further, chronic A beta(1-)(42) reduces the ratio of phosphorylated Akt (pAkt)/Akt, in turn decreases neuronal Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and leads to an increase of caspase-3, which likely underlines the signal pathway of chronic A beta(1-42)-induced neuron apoptosis. Interestingly, pre-treatments of CB2R agonist (JWH133, 10 mu M) with A beta(1-42) prevents A beta(1-42) induced the decrease of pAkt/Akt ratio, the decrease of Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and the increase of caspase-3, and protects hippocampal neurons against A beta(1-42)-induced apoptosis. All neuroprotective effects of JWH133 are abolished by a selective CB2R antagonist, AM630. Taken together, the activation of hippocampal CB(2)Rs protects neurons against A beta(1-42) toxicity, and the CB2R-mediated enhancement of the pAkt signaling is likely involved in the protection of hippocampal neurons against A beta(1-42)-induced neuronal toxicity.