Abstract
The hallucinogenic compound, salvinorin A, is a potent κ-opioid receptor (KOR) agonist. However, other target(s) than the KOR, such as the cannabinoid CB1 receptor, have been proposed to explain its multiple pharmacological actions. Here, we have evaluated the effect of salvinorin A in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages as well as in models of inflammation in vivo. Salvinorin A (0.1-10 pM) reduced LPS-stimulated nitrite, TNF-α and IL-10 (but not IL-1β) levels as well as iNOS (but not COX-2) LPS-induced hyperexpression. The effect of salvinorin A on nitrite levels was reverted by the opioid antagonist naloxone, the KOR antagonist nor-binaltorphimine and by the CB1 antagonist rimonabant Salvinorin A also prevented KOR and CB1 hyperexpression induced by LPS. In vivo, salvinorin A reduced the LPS- and the carrageenan-induced paw oedema and formalin-induced inflammatory pain, in a nor-binaltorphimine and rimonabant-sensitive manner. It is concluded that salvinorin A-via KORs and CB1 receptors-exerts ultrapotent actions on macrophages and also shows moderate antinflammatory effects in vivo.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 891-902 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | Journal of Molecular Medicine |
Volume | 89 |
Issue number | 9 |
Early online date | 16 Apr 2011 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2011 |
Bibliographical note
This work was, in part, supported by “Fondazione Enrico & Enrica Sovena”.Data Availability Statement
Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00109-011-0752-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Keywords
- Cannabinoid receptors
- Carrageenan-induced
- Oedema
- Inflammation
- Lipopolysaccharide
- Macrophages
- κ-opioid receptors (KOR)
- Salvinorin A