The acyl amides are a family of endogenous lipids that act as potent modulators of pain and inflammation. The best characterized members of this family are the arachidonoyl amides, which includes N-arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA; anandamide). N-palmitoyl glycine (PalGly) contains an 18-carbon saturated fatty acid that is amide-linked to glycine and is structurally similar to the phospholipid-derived N-acyl ethanolamines. Endogenously produced in rat skin and spinal cord, PalGly is present in 100-fold greater amounts in skin and 3-fold greater in brain compared to AEA. Injection of 0.43 μg PalGly in rat hindpaw inhibits heat-induced firing of nociceptive neurons in rat dorsal horn. PalGly treatment induces transient calcium influx in native dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells and in the PTX-sensitive, DRG-like cell line F-11 (EC50 = 5.5 μM).
N-Acylated ethanolamines (NAE) are naturally-occurring lipids that have diverse bioactivities. The different types of NAE can be derived from glycerophospho-linked precursors by the activity of glycerophosphodiesterase 1 (GDE1). Glycerophospho-N-arachidonoyl ethanolamine is the precursor of arachidonoyl ethanolamide (AEA), also known as anandamide. AEA is an endogenous cannabinoid neurotransmitter that binds to both central cannabinoid (CB1) and peripheral cannabinoid (CB2) receptors. It inhibits the specific binding of [3H]-HU-243 to synaptosomal membranes with a Ki value of 52 nM, compared to 46 nM for δ9-THC.
Anandamide (arachidonoyl ethanolamide; AEA) is an endogenous lipid with cannabinergic activity; along with 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, it forms part of the endocannabinoid system. AEA undergoes reuptake into neurons by a facilitated process. Controversy exists as to whether there is a specific AEA transporter, or instead the uptake process is simply driven by hydrolysis of AEA by intracellular fatty acyl amide hydrolase (FAAH). CAY10412 is an analog of AEA that has no intrinsic binding affinity for either CB1 or CB2 receptors. It is a potent inhibitor of AEA reuptake in U937 lymphoma cells, with an IC50 of 3 μM. CAY10412 could be a useful tool for distinguishing the competing transporter theories. The pharmacology of CAY10412 is largely unexplored; it may enhance endocannabinoid signalling by augmenting endocannabinoid concentrations.
Phosphatidylethanolamines are important components of cell membranes and biochemical pathways of fatty acid synthesis. 1-Palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl PE (PLPE) is one of the many phosphatidylethanolamines that may be present in cellular membranes. It has been used in studies involving the biosynthesis of anandamide via the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and lysoPLD pathways. PLPE can also be used as a specific substrate to assess the activity of sPLA2-IIA in the presence of other phospholipids.
Prostaglandin D2 ethanolamide (PGD2-EA) is a bioactive lipid produced by the sequential metabolism of anandamide (arachidonoyl ethanolamide) by cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, in particular by COX-2, and PGD synthase. The biosynthesis of PGD2-EA from anandamide can also be increased when anandamide metabolism is diminished by deletion of fatty acid amide hydrolase. PGD2-EA is inactive against recombinant prostanoid receptors, including the D prostanoid receptor. It increases the frequency of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents in primary cultured hippocampal neurons, an effect which is the opposite of that induced by anandamide.. PGD2-EA also induces apoptosis in colorectal carcinoma cell lines.