The CB2-PKC pathway is involved in esketamine-induced anti-inflammation in BV-2 microglial cells exposed to lipopolysaccharides.
American journal of translational research January 1, 2024 Yuqing Wang, Ming Cao, Yuanyuan Zhang et al. 3 citations
Esketamine reduces inflammation in microglial cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide, a bacterial toxin that mimics neuroinflammation. The anti-inflammatory effect involves upregulation of the cannabinoid type 2 (CB2) receptor and activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Blocking either the CB2 receptor with AM630 or PKC with chelerythrine reversed esketamine's ability to lower proinflammatory cytokines, nitrite, iNOS, and NF-κB (p65) expression. These results suggest the microglial CB2-PKC pathway mediates esketamine's anti-inflammatory actions, offering a potential mechanism for its antidepressant effects beyond direct neurotransmitter modulation.