Anti-Proliferative Properties and Proapoptotic Function of New CB2 Selective Cannabinoid Receptor Agonist in Jurkat Leukemia Cells
by
Antonella Capozzi 1, Vincenzo Mattei 2, 
Stefano Martellucci 1,2
, Valeria Manganelli 1, Giuseppe Saccomanni 3, Tina Garofalo 1, Maurizio Sorice 1, Clementina Manera 3,* and Roberta Misasi 1,*
Antonella Capozzi 1, Vincenzo Mattei 2, Stefano Martellucci 1,2, Valeria Manganelli 1, Giuseppe Saccomanni 3, Tina Garofalo 1, Maurizio Sorice 1, Clementina Manera 3,* and Roberta Misasi 1,*
1
Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 00161 Rome, Italy
2
Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Environmental Pathology, “Sabina Universitas”, 02100 Rieti, Italy
3
Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19(7), 1958; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms19071958
Received: 29 May 2018 / Revised: 28 June 2018 / Accepted: 29 June 2018 / Published: 4 July 2018
(This article belongs to the Collection Programmed Cell Death and Apoptosis)
Several studies demonstrated that cannabinoids reduce tumor growth, inhibit angiogenesis, and decrease cancer cell migration. As these molecules are well tolerated, it would be interesting to investigate the potential benefit of newly synthesized compounds, binding cannabinoid receptors (CBRs). In this study, we describe the synthesis and biological effect of 2-oxo-1,8-naphthyridine-3-carboxamide derivative LV50, a new compound with high CB2 receptor (CB2R) affinity. We demonstrated that it decreases viability of Jurkat leukemia cells, evaluated by Trypan Blue and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), but mainly induces a proapoptotic effect. We observed an increase of a hypodiploid peak by propidium iodide staining and changes in nuclear morphology by Hoechst 33258. These data were confirmed by a significant increase of Annexin V staining, cleavage of the nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP), and caspases activation. In addition, in order to exclude that LV50 non-specifically triggers death of all normal leukocytes, we tested the new compound on normal peripheral blood lymphocytes, excluding the idea of general cytotoxicity. To characterize the involvement of CB2R in the anti-proliferative and proapoptotic effect of LV50, cells were pretreated with a specific CB2R antagonist and the obtained data showed reverse results. Thus, we suggest a link between inhibition of cell survival and proapoptotic activity of the new compound that elicits this effect as selective CB2R agonist.
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Keywords:
Jurkat leukemia cells; cannabinoid; CB2 receptor; Annexin V; apoptosis; mitochondrial membrane potential
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MDPI and ACS Style
Capozzi, A.; Mattei, V.; Martellucci, S.; Manganelli, V.; Saccomanni, G.; Garofalo, T.; Sorice, M.; Manera, C.; Misasi, R. Anti-Proliferative Properties and Proapoptotic Function of New CB2 Selective Cannabinoid Receptor Agonist in Jurkat Leukemia Cells. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 1958.
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