Effects of cannabinoid agonists on the proteome of a human oligodendrocyte culture: possible implications for schizophrenia

Abstract

Several studies have suggested the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. In addition, it also showed that cannabinoids can affect the function of oligodendrocytes. In order to better understand the molecular mechanisms of involved, we had investigated the effects of endocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoid agonists on a human oligodendrocyte cell line (MO3.13). Using proteomic tools and in silico analyses, we found alterations in cannabinoid-treated cells previously associated to the disease. Also, we found alterations in biological processes, such as cell cycle, mRNA processing and metabolism, and cellular component organization. These are potentially interesting to be explored in a alternative cannabinoid-centered therapeutic strategy. Taken together, our results may contribute to the elucidation of the role of endocannabinoid system in oligodendrocytes and the possible implications for undertanding the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.