Anti-atherosclerosis role of N-oleoylethanolamine in CB₂

To observe a PPAR-α agonist effect of N-oleoylethanolamine (OEA) on CB₂ (cannabinoid receptor 2), an anti-inflammatory receptor in vascular endothelial cell, healthy HUVECs and TNF-α induced HUVECs were used to establish a human vascular endothelial cell inflammatory model. Different doses of OEA (10, 50 and 100 μmol·L^-1) had been given to HUVECs, cultured at 37 ℃ for 7 h and then collected the total protein and total mRNA. CB₂ protein expression was detected by Western blotting and CB₂ mRNA expression was assayed by real-time PCR. As the results shown, OEA (10 and 50 μmol·L^-1) could induce the CB₂ protein and mRNA expression, but not 100 μmol·L^-1. To detect if anti-inflammation effect of OEA is partly through CB₂, CB₂ inhibitor AM630 was used to inhibit HUVEC CB₂ expression, then the VCAM-1 expression induced by TNF-α was detected, or THP-1 adhere to TNF-α induced HUVECs was examined. OEA (50 μmol·L^-1) could inhibit TNF-α induced VCAM-1 expression and THP-1 adhere to HUVECs, these effects could be partly inhibited by a CB₂ inhibitor AM630. The anti-inflammation effect of OEA is induced by PPAR-α and CB₂, suggesting that CB₂ signaling could be a target for anti-atherosclerosis, OEA have wide effect in anti-inflammation, it may have better therapeutic potential in anti-inflammation in HUVECs, thus achieving anti-atherosclerosis effect.