Fatty acid-binding proteins transport N-acylethanolamines to nuclear receptors and are targets of endocannabinoid transport inhibitors

J Biol Chem. 2012 Jan 27;287(5):3415-24. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.304907. Epub 2011 Dec 14.

Abstract

N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) are bioactive lipids that engage diverse receptor systems. Recently, we identified fatty acid-binding proteins (FABPs) as intracellular NAE carriers. Here, we provide two new functions for FABPs in NAE signaling. We demonstrate that FABPs mediate the nuclear translocation of the NAE oleoylethanolamide, an agonist of nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα). Antagonism of FABP function through chemical inhibition, dominant-negative approaches, or shRNA-mediated knockdown reduced PPARα activation, confirming a requisite role for FABPs in this process. In addition, we show that NAE analogs, traditionally employed as inhibitors of the putative endocannabinoid transmembrane transporter, target FABPs. Support for the existence of the putative membrane transporter stems primarily from pharmacological inhibition of endocannabinoid uptake by such transport inhibitors, which are widely employed in endocannabinoid research despite lacking a known cellular target(s). Our approach adapted FABP-mediated PPARα signaling and employed in vitro binding, arachidonoyl-[1-(14)C]ethanolamide ([(14)C]AEA) uptake, and FABP knockdown to demonstrate that transport inhibitors exert their effects through inhibition of FABPs, thereby providing a molecular rationale for the underlying physiological effects of these compounds. Identification of FABPs as targets of transport inhibitors undermines the central pharmacological support for the existence of an endocannabinoid transmembrane transporter.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / physiology
  • Animals
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / genetics
  • Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / metabolism
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism*
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Ethanolamines / metabolism*
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Oleic Acids / metabolism*
  • PPAR alpha / agonists
  • PPAR alpha / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology*

Substances

  • Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Ethanolamines
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins
  • N-acylethanolamines
  • Oleic Acids
  • PPAR alpha
  • oleoylethanolamide