Expression of Type I Cannabinoid Receptors at Different Stages of Neuronal Differentiation of Human Fibroblasts

Abstract

Differential expression of type 1 cannabinoid receptors (CR1) was evaluated at different stages of human skin fibroblast transformation into terminally differentiated neurons. Immunocytochemical staining detected no CR1 on fibroblasts, but their transformation into induced pluripotent stem cells was accompanied by marked stimulation of CR1 expression. In neuronal precursors, the receptors were located mainly on cell bodies and at the base of their processes. This distribution was retained at the terminal stage of differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells into neurons.

Keywords: cannabinoid receptors; cell reprogramming; induced pluripotent stem cells; neuronal precursors.