An entourage effect: inactive endogenous fatty acid glycerol esters enhance 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol cannabinoid activity

2-Arachidonoyl-glycerol (2-Ara-G1) has been isolated from various tissues and identified as an endogenous ligand for both cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. Here we report that in spleen, as in brain and gut, 2-Ara-G1 is accompanied by several 2-acyl-glycerol esters, two major ones being 2-linoleoyl-glycerol (2-Lino-G1) and 2-palmitoyl-glycerol (2-Palm-G1). These two esters do not bind to the cannabinoid receptors, nor do they inhibit adenylyl cyclase via either CB1 or CB2; however, they significantly potentiate the apparent binding of 2-Ara-G1 and its apparent capacity to inhibit adenylyl cyclase. Together these esters also significantly potentiate 2-Ara-G1 inhibition of motor behavior, immobility on a ring, analgesia on a hot plate and hypothermia caused by 2-Ara-G1 in mice. 2-Lino-G1, but not 2-Palm-G1, significantly inhibits the inactivation of 2-Ara-G1 by neuronal and basophilic cells. These data indicate that the biological activity of 2-Ara-G1 can be increased by related, endogenous 2-acyl-glycerols, which alone show no significant activity in any of the tests employed. This effect ('entourage effect') may represent a novel route for molecular regulation of endogenous cannabinoid activity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.