ABHD6 selectively controls metabotropic-dependent increases in 2-AG production

The most abundant endocannabinoid (eCB) in the brain, 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG), is hydrolyzed by /{beta}-hydrolase domain containing 6 (ABHD6); yet how ABHD6 controls stimuli-dependent increases in 2-AG production is unknown. To explore this question, we leveraged the recently developed 2-AG sensor, GRABeCB2.0, and found that stimulation of Neuro2a cells in culture with bradykinin (BK) acting at metabotropic B2K receptors and ATP acting at ionotropic P2X7 receptors led to differential increases in 2-AG levels. B2K triggered increases in 2-AG levels via diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL), and this mechanism was potentiated by increases in intracellular calcium and ABHD6 inhibition. By contrast, P2X7-triggered increases in 2-AG levels were dependent on DAGL and extracellular calcium but unaffected by ABHD6 inhibition. Thus, ABHD6 preferentially regulates metabotropic-dependent increases in 2-AG levels over ionotropic-dependent increases in 2-AG levels. Our study indicates that ABHD6 selectively controls stimuli-dependent increases in 2-AG production and emphasizes its specific role in eCB signaling.