Pepcan-12 (RVD-hemopressin) is a CB2 receptor positive allosteric modulator constitutively secreted by adrenals and in liver upon tissue damage

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 25;7(1):9560. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-09808-8.

Abstract

Pepcan-12 (RVD-hemopressin; RVDPVNFKLLSH) is the major peptide of a family of endogenous peptide endocannabinoids (pepcans) shown to act as negative allosteric modulators (NAM) of cannabinoid CB1 receptors. Noradrenergic neurons have been identified to be a specific site of pepcan production. However, it remains unknown whether pepcans occur in the periphery and interact with peripheral CB2 cannabinoid receptors. Here, it is shown that pepcan-12 acts as a potent (K i value ~50 nM) hCB2 receptor positive allosteric modulator (PAM). It significantly potentiated the effects of CB2 receptor agonists, including the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), for [35S]GTPγS binding and cAMP inhibition (5-10 fold). In mice, the putative precursor pepcan-23 (SALSDLHAHKLRVDPVNFKLLSH) was identified with pepcan-12 in brain, liver and kidney. Pepcan-12 was increased upon endotoxemia and ischemia reperfusion damage where CB2 receptors play a protective role. The adrenals are a major endocrine site of production/secretion of constitutive pepcan-12, as shown by its marked loss after adrenalectomy. However, upon I/R damage pepcan-12 was strongly increased in the liver (from ~100 pmol/g to ~500 pmol/g) independent of adrenals. The wide occurrence of this endogenous hormone-like CB2 receptor PAM, with unforeseen opposite allosteric effects on cannabinoid receptors, suggests its potential role in peripheral pathophysiological processes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Glands / injuries
  • Adrenal Glands / metabolism
  • Allosteric Regulation
  • Chromatography, Liquid
  • Hemoglobins / chemistry*
  • Hemoglobins / metabolism
  • Liver / injuries
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Metabolome
  • Metabolomics / methods
  • Peptide Fragments / chemistry*
  • Peptide Fragments / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / chemistry*
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / metabolism
  • Reperfusion Injury / etiology
  • Reperfusion Injury / metabolism
  • Reperfusion Injury / pathology
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Substances

  • Hemoglobins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • RVD-hemopressin, human
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2