Antiangiogenic activity of the endocannabinoid anandamide: correlation to its tumor-suppressor efficacy

Endocannabinoids are now emerging as suppressors of key cell-signaling pathways involved in cancer cell growth, invasion, and metastasis. We have previously observed that the metabolically stable anandamide analog, 2-methyl-2'-F-anandamide (Met-F-AEA) can inhibit the growth of thyroid cancer in vivo. Our hypothesis was that the anti-tumor effect observed could be at least in part ascribed to inhibition of neo-angiogenesis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the anti-angiogenic activity of Met-F-AEA, to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying this effect and whether Met-F-AEA could antagonize tumor-induced endothelial cell sprouting. We show that Met-F-AEA inhibited bFGF-stimulated endothelial cell proliferation, in a dose-dependent manner, and also induced apoptosis, both effects reliant on cannabinoid CB1 receptor stimulation. Analyzing the signaling pathways implicated in angiogenesis, we observed that the bFGF-induced ERK phosphorylation was antagonized by Met-F-AEA, and we found that p38 MAPK was involved in Met-F-AEA-induced apoptosis. Moreover, Met-F-AEA was able to inhibit bi-dimensional capillary-like tube formation and activity of matrix metalloprotease MMP-2, a major matrix degrading enzyme. Importantly, we demonstrated that Met-F-AEA is also functional in vivo since it inhibited angiogenesis in the chick chorioallantoic neovascularization model. Finally, Met-F-AEA inhibited tumor-induced angiogenesis in a three-dimensional model of endothelial and thyroid tumor cell (KiMol) spheroids co-cultures in different 3-D polymeric matrices that resemble tumor microenvironment and architecture. Thus, our results suggest that anandamide could be involved in the control of cancer growth targeting both tumor cell proliferation and the angiogenic stimulation of the vasculature.     

Activation of capsaicin-sensitive primary sensory neurones induces anandamide production and release

The inhibitory cannabinoid 1 receptor and the excitatory vanilloid receptor 1, both of which are responsive to the endogenous ligand anandamide, are co-expressed on a subpopulation of primary sensory neurones. We report that activation of the cannabinoid 1 receptor/vanilloid receptor 1-co-expressing primary sensory neurones induces the production and release of anandamide. Application of capsaicin (3 nm-1 micro m) to cultured primary sensory neurones evoked calcitonin gene-related peptide release, which was significantly increased by the selective cannabinoid 1 receptor antagonist, SR141716A (200 nm). Mass spectrometric analyses of the extracellular solution revealed that exposure to capsaicin (10 nm or 100 nm) enhanced the anandamide concentration of the medium from less then 0.05 pmol/ micro L to more then 2 pmol/ micro L. Depolarization of the neurones with 50 mm KCl also enhanced the anandamide content of the buffer. Both the capsaicin- and KCl-induced anandamide release depended on extracellular Ca2+. Prolonged treatment of the cultures with capsaicin (10 micro m) reduced both the capsaicin- and KCl-induced anandamide release. These findings indicate that activation of capsaicin-sensitive primary sensory neurones evokes anandamide production and release, and that anandamide might be a key endogenous regulator of the excitability of these neurones.     

The endocannabinoid system in the brain of Carassius auratus and its possible role in the control of food intake

Cannabinoid receptors and the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol have been suggested to regulate food intake in several animal phyla. Orthologs of the mammalian cannabinoid CB(1) and CB(2) receptors have been identified in fish. We investigated the presence of this endocannabinoid system in the brain of the goldfish Carassius auratus and its role in food consumption. CB(1)-like immunoreactivity was distributed throughout the goldfish brain. The prosencephalon showed strong CB(1)-like immunoreactivity in the telencephalon and the inferior lobes of the posterior hypothalamus. Endocannabinoids were detected in all brain regions of C. auratus and an anandamide-hydrolysing enzymatic activity with features similar to those of mammalian fatty acid amide hydrolase was found. Food deprivation for 24 h was accompanied by a significant increase of anandamide, but not 2-arachidonoylglycerol, levels only in the telencephalon. Anandamide caused a dose-dependent effect on food intake within 2 h of intraperitoneal administration to satiated fish and significantly enhanced or reduced food intake at low (1 pg/g body weight) or intermediate (10 pg/g) doses, respectively, the highest dose tested (100 pg/g) being inactive. We suggest that endocannabinoids might variously contribute to adaptive responses to food shortage in fish.     

Expression of human peripheral cannabinoid receptor for structural studies

Human peripheral-type cannabinoid receptor (CB2) was expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion with the maltose-binding protein, thioredoxin, and a deca-histidine tag. Functional activity and structural integrity of the receptor in bacterial protoplast membranes was confirmed by extensive binding studies with a variety of natural and synthetic cannabinoid ligands. E. coli membranes expressing CB2 also activated cognate G-proteins in an in vitro coupled assay. Detergent-solubilized receptor was purified to 80%-90% homogeneity by affinity chromatography followed by ion-exchange chromatography. By high-resolution NMR on the receptor in DPC micelles, it was determined that purified CB2 forms 1:1 complexes with the ligands CP-55,940 and anandamide. The receptor was successfully reconstituted into phosphatidylcholine bilayers and the membranes were deposited into a porous substrate as tubular lipid bilayers for structural studies by NMR and scattering techniques.     

In-Vitro and In-Vivo Action of Cannabinoids

The discovery of endocannabinoids such as anandamide and the wide spread localization of cannabinoid receptors in the brain and peripheral tissues, suggests that the cannabinoid system represents a previously unrecognized ubiquitous net work in the nervous system, whose physiology and function is unfolding. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that some of the actions of anandamide are independent of a cannabinoid receptor mechanism. This was accomplished by the use of cannabinoid agonist and antagonist interaction in an in-vitro and in-vivo test systems. In-vitro, we used Xenopus laevis oocytes expression system and two-voltage clamp technique in combination with differential display polymerase chain reaction to determine whether the differential display of genes following treatment with anandamide may be linked to AMPA glutamate receptor. The differential expression of genes in vivo after the sub-acute administration of anandamide could not be directly linked with the AMPA glutamate receptor. In the voltage clamp studies we investigated the effects of anandamide on recombinant AMPA GluR3 sub-unit currents generated by kainic acid in oocytes expressing the AMPA glutamate receptor. In the in-vitro studies, we present evidence that anandamide inhibited the kainate activated currents in oocytes expressing AMPA glutamate receptor involves cAMP transduction via a cannabinoid receptor independent mechanism. In the in-vivo studies, SR141716A, the CB1 antagonist, induced anxiolysis, that was dependent on the mouse strain used in the anxiety model and blocked the anxiogenic effects of anandamide or methanandamide whereas SR141716A had no effect on the anandamide inhibition of kainate activated currents in-vitro.     

Internalization and Recycling of the CB1 Cannabinoid Receptor

Tolerance develops rapidly to cannabis, cannabinoids, and related drugs acting at the CB1 cannabinoid receptor. However, little is known about what happens to the receptor as tolerance is developing. In this study, we have found that CB1 receptors are rapidly internalized following agonist binding and receptor activation. Efficacious cannabinoid agonists (WIN 55,212-2, CP 55,940, and HU 210) caused rapid internalization. Methanandamide (an analogue of an endogenous cannabinoid, anandamide) was less effective, causing internalization only at high concentration, whereas delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol caused little internalization, even at 3 microM. CB1 internalized via clathrin-coated pits as sequestration was inhibited by hypertonic sucrose. Internalization did not require activated G protein alpha(i), alpha(o), or alpha(s) subunits. A region of the extreme carboxy terminus of the receptor was necessary for internalization, as a mutant CB1 receptor lacking the last 14 residues did not internalize, whereas a mutant lacking the last 10 residues did. Steps involved in the recycling of sequestered receptor were also investigated. Recovery of CB1 to the cell surface after short (20 min) but not long (90 min) agonist treatment was independent of new protein synthesis. Recycling also required endosomal acidification and dephosphorylation. These results show that CB1 receptor trafficking is dynamically regulated by cannabimimetic drugs.     

Loss of cannabinoid-stimulated guanosine 5'-O-(3-[(35)S]Thiotriphosphate) binding without receptor down-regulation in brain regions of anandamide-tolerant rats

The endogenous cannabinoid anandamide has been reported to produce well-defined behavioral tolerance, but studies on the possible mechanisms underlying this process are few and often contradictory. The present study was designed to survey the cellular events involved in anandamide tolerance, in terms of the effects on receptor number, coupling with G proteins, and activation of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) cascade. Chronic treatment of rats with anandamide (20 mg/kg i.p. for 15 days) resulted in behavioral tolerance without any change in cannabinoid receptor binding in the brain regions studied (striatum, cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum), suggesting that receptor down-regulation was not involved in the development of anandamide behavioral tolerance. In contrast, prolonged exposure to anandamide significantly reduced agonist-stimulated guanosine 5'-O:-(3-[(35)S]thiotriphosphate) binding in the same areas, with losses of >50%, suggesting that receptor desensitization may be part of the molecular mechanism underlying this tolerance. Finally, concerning the cAMP cascade-the most well-known intracellular signaling pathways activated by CB(1) receptors-in the brain regions from rats tolerant to anandamide, we found no alteration in cAMP levels or in protein kinase A activity. We propose that anandamide, unlike Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol and other cannabinoids, does not alter the receptor system at multiple levels but that desensitization of the CB(1) receptor might account for behavioral tolerance to the drug.     

Role of receptor internalization in the agonist-induced desensitization of cannabinoid type 1 receptors

Agonist-induced internalization of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) is an important mechanism for regulating signaling transduction of functional receptors at the plasma membrane. We demonstrate here that both caveolae/lipid-rafts- and clathrin-coated-pits-mediated pathways were involved in agonist-induced endocytosis of the cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) in stably transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells and that the internalized receptors were predominantly sorted into recycling pathway for reactivation. The treatment of CB1 receptors with the low endocytotic agonist Δ⁹-THC induced a faster receptor desensitization and slower resensitization than the high endocytotic agonist WIN 55,212-2. In addition, the blockade of receptor endocytosis or recycling pathway markedly enhanced agonist-induced CB1 receptor desensitization. Furthermore, co-expression of phospholipase D2, an enhancer of receptor endocytosis, reduced CB1 receptor desensitization, whereas co-expression of a phospholipase D2 negative mutant significantly increased the desensitization after WIN 55,212-2 treatment. These findings provide evidences for the importance of receptor endocytosis in counteracting CB1 receptor desensitization by facilitating receptor reactivation. Moreover, in primary cultured neurons, the low endocytotic agonist Δ⁹-THC or anandamide exhibited a greater desensitization of endogenous CB1 receptors than the high endocytotic agonist WIN 55,212-2, CP 55940 or 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, indicating that cannabinoids with high endocytotic efficacy might cause reduced development of cannabinoid tolerance to some kind cannabinoid-mediated effects.     

CB2 cannabinoid receptor is a novel target for third-generation selective estrogen receptor modulators bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the ability of the third-generation selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene to bind and act on CB2 cannabinoid receptor. We have identified, for the first time, that CB2 is a novel target for bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene. Our results showed that bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene were able to compete for specific [³H]CP-55,940 binding to CB2 in a concentration-dependent manner. Our data also demonstrated that by acting on CB2, bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene concentration-dependently enhanced forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation. Furthermore, bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene caused parallel, rightward shifts of the CP-55,940, HU-210, and WIN55,212-2 concentration–response curves without altering the efficacy of these cannabinoid agonists on CB2, which indicates that bazedoxifene- and lasofoxifene-induced CB2 antagonism is most likely competitive in nature. Our discovery that CB2 is a novel target for bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene suggests that these third-generation SERMs can potentially be repurposed for novel therapeutic indications for which CB2 is a target. In addition, identifying bazedoxifene and lasofoxifene as CB2 inverse agonists also provides important novel mechanisms of actions to explain the known therapeutic effects of these SERMs.     

Visualization of 2-arachidonoylglycerol accumulation and cannabinoid CB1 receptor activity in rat brain cryosections by functional autoradiography

In neuronal signalling mediated by the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol, both synthetic and inactivating enzymes operate within close proximity to the G(i/o)-coupled pre-synaptic CB(1) receptors, thus allowing for rapid onset and transient duration of this lipid modulator. In rat brain, 2-arachidonoylglycerol is inactivated mainly via hydrolysis by serine hydrolase inhibitor-sensitive monoacylglycerol lipase activity. We show in this study that comprehensive pharmacological elimination of this activity in brain cryosections by methyl arachidonylfluorophosphonate or hexadecylsulphonyl fluoride results in endocannabinoid-mediated CB(1) receptor activity, which can be visualized by functional autoradiography. URB597, a specific inhibitor of anandamide hydrolysis proved ineffective. TLC indicated that the bioactivity resided in 2-arachidonoylglycerol-containing fraction and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy detected elevated levels of monoacylglycerols, including 2-arachidonoylglycerol in this fraction. Although two diacylglycerol lipase inhibitors, tetrahydrolipstatin (THL) and RHC80267, blocked the bulk of 2-arachidonoylglycerol accumulation in methyl arachidonylfluorophosphonate-treated sections, only THL reversed the endocannabinoid-dependent CB(1) receptor activity. Further studies indicated that at the used concentrations, THL rather specifically antagonized the CB(1) receptor. These findings confirm that in brain sections there is preservation of enzymatic pathways regulating the production of endogenous receptor ligands. Furthermore, the presently described methodology may serve as an elegant and intuitive approach to identify novel membrane-derived lipid modulators operating in the CNS.     

The FGF receptor uses the endocannabinoid signaling system to couple to an axonal growth response

A key role for DAG lipase activity in the control of axonal growth and guidance in vitro and in vivo has been established. For example, DAG lipase activity is required for FGF-stimulated calcium influx into neuronal growth cones, and this response is both necessary and sufficient for an axonal growth response. The mechanism that couples the hydrolysis of DAG to the calcium response is not known. The initial hydrolysis of DAG at the sn-1 position (by DAG lipase) will generate 2-arachidonylglycerol, and this molecule is well established as an endogenous cannabinoid receptor agonist in the brain. In the present paper, we show that in rat cerebellar granule neurons, CB1 cannabinoid receptor antagonists inhibit axonal growth responses stimulated by N-cadherin and FGF2. Furthermore, three CB1 receptor agonists mimic the N-cadherin/FGF2 response at a step downstream from FGF receptor activation, but upstream from calcium influx into cells. In contrast, we could find no evidence for the CB1 receptor coupling the TrkB neurotrophin receptor to an axonal growth response in the same neurons. The observation that the CB1 receptor can couple the activated FGF receptor to an axonal growth response raises novel therapeutic opportunities.     

Anandamide inhibits adhesion and migration of breast cancer cells

The endocannabinoid system regulates cell proliferation in human breast cancer cells. We reasoned that stimulation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors could induce a non-invasive phenotype in breast metastatic cells. In a model of metastatic spreading in vivo, the metabolically stable anandamide analogue, 2-methyl-2'-F-anandamide (Met-F-AEA), significantly reduced the number and dimension of metastatic nodes, this effect being antagonized by the selective CB1 antagonist SR141716A. In MDA-MB-231 cells, a highly invasive human breast cancer cell line, and in TSA-E1 cells, a murine breast cancer cell line, Met-F-AEA inhibited adhesion and migration on type IV collagen in vitro without modifying integrin expression: both these effects were antagonized by SR141716A. In order to understand the molecular mechanism involved in these processes, we analyzed the phosphorylation of FAK and Src, two tyrosine kinases involved in migration and adhesion. In Met-F-AEA-treated cells, we observed a decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of both FAK and Src, this effect being attenuated by SR141716A. We propose that CB1 receptor agonists inhibit tumor cell invasion and metastasis by modulating FAK phosphorylation, and that CB1 receptor activation might represent a novel therapeutic strategy to slow down the growth of breast carcinoma and to inhibit its metastatic diffusion in vivo.     

Cannabinoid receptor ligands mediate growth inhibition and cell death in mantle cell lymphoma

We have earlier reported overexpression of the central and peripheral cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In this study, treatment with cannabinoid receptor ligands caused a decrease in viability of MCL cells, while control cells lacking CB1 were not affected. Interestingly, equipotent doses of the CB1 antagonist SR141716A and the CB1/CB2 agonist anandamide inflicted additive negative effects on viability. Moreover, treatment with the CB1/CB2 agonist Win-55,212-2 caused a decrease in long-term growth of MCL cells in culture. Induction of apoptosis, as measured by FACS/Annexin V-FITC, contributed to the growth suppressive effect of Win-55,212-2. Our data suggest that cannabinoid receptors may be considered as potential therapeutic targets in MCL.     

Sustained Endocannabinoid Signaling Compromises Decidual Function and Promotes Inflammation-induced Preterm Birth

Recent studies provide evidence that premature maternal decidual senescence resulting from heightened mTORC1 signaling is a cause of preterm birth (PTB). We show here that mice devoid of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) with elevated levels of N-arachidonyl ethanolamide (anandamide), a major endocannabinoid lipid mediator, were more susceptible to PTB upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Anandamide is degraded by FAAH and primarily works by activating two G-protein-coupled receptors CB1 and CB2, encoded by Cnr1 and Cnr2, respectively. We found that Faah^−/− decidual cells progressively underwent premature senescence as marked by increased senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal) staining and γH2AX-positive decidual cells. Interestingly, increased endocannabinoid signaling activated MAPK p38, but not p42/44 or mTORC1 signaling, in Faah^−/− deciduae, and inhibition of p38 halted premature decidual senescence. We further showed that treatment of a long-acting anandamide in wild-type mice at midgestation triggered premature decidual senescence utilizing CB1, since administration of a CB1 antagonist greatly reduced the rate of PTB in Faah^−/− females exposed to LPS. These results provide evidence that endocannabinoid signaling is critical in regulating decidual senescence and parturition timing. This study identifies a previously unidentified pathway in decidual senescence, which is independent of mTORC1 signaling.     

Altered patterns of filopodia production in CHO cells heterologously expressing zebra finch CB1 cannabinoid receptors

Recent findings indicate that cannabinoid-altered vocal development involves elevated densities of dendritic spines in a subset of brain regions involved in zebra finch song learning and production suggesting that cannabinoid receptor activation may regulate cell structure. Here we report that activation of zebra finch CB₁ receptors (zfCB₁, delivered by a lentivector to CHO cells) produces dose-dependent biphasic effects on the mean length of filopodia expressed: Low agonist concentrations (3 nM WIN55212-2) increase lengths while higher concentrations reduce them. In contrast, treatment of zfCB₁-expressing cells with the antagonist/inverse agonist SR141716A causes increases in both mean filopodia length and number at 30 and 100 nM. These results demonstrate that CB₁ receptor activation can differentially influence filiopodia elongation depending on dose, and demonstrate that manipulation of cannabinoid receptor activity is capable of modulating cell morphology.     

Cannabinoid receptor and WIN-55,212-2-stimulated [35S]GTPgammaS binding and cannabinoid receptor mRNA levels in several brain structures of adult male rats chronically exposed to R-methanandamide.

We and others have recently demonstrated that the pharmacological tolerance observed after prolonged exposure to plant and synthetic cannabinoids in adult individuals seems to have a pharmacodynamic basis, based on the observed down-regulation of cannabinoid receptors in the brain of cannabinoid-tolerant rats. However, we were unable to elicit a similar receptor down-regulation after a chronic exposure to anandamide, the first discovered endogenous cannabinoid, possibly because of its rapid metabolic breakdown in arachidonic acid and ethanolamine. The present study was designed to progress in these previous studies, by using R-methanandamide, a more stable analog, instead anandamide. In addition, we examined not only cannabinoid receptor binding, but also WIN-55,212-2-stimulated [³⁵S]-GTPγS binding, by autoradiography, and cannabinoid receptor mRNA levels, by in situ hybridization. Results were as follows. The daily administration of R-methanandamide for a period of five days produced decreases in cannabinoid receptor binding in the lateral caudate-putamen, cerebellum, entopeduncular nucleus and substantia nigra. The remaining areas, the medial caudate-putamen, globus pallidus, cerebral cortex (layers I and VI), hippocampus (dentate gyrus and Ammon’s horn) and several limbic structures (nucleus accumbens, septum nuclei and basolateral amygdaloid nucleus), exhibited no changes in cannabinoid receptor binding. Similarly, the levels of cannabinoid receptor mRNA expression decreased in the lateral and medial caudate-putamen and in the CA1 and CA2 subfields of the Ammon’s horn in the hippocampus after the chronic exposure to R-methanandamide, whereas the remaining areas showed no changes. WIN-55,212-2-stimulated [³⁵S]-GTPγS binding did not change in the lateral caudate-putamen, cerebral cortex (layer I), septum nuclei and hippocampal structures (dentate gyrus and Ammon’s horn) of animals chronically exposed to R-methanandamide, whereas a certain trend to decrease could be observed in the substantia nigra and deep layer (VI) of the cerebral cortex in these animals. In summary, as reported for other cannabinoid receptor agonists, the prolonged exposure of rats to R-methanandamide, a more stable analog of anandamide, was able to produce cannabinoid receptor-related changes in contrast with the absence of changes observed early with the metabolically labile anandamide. The observed changes exhibited an evident regional pattern with areas, such as basal ganglia, cerebellum and hippocampus, responding to chronic R-methanandamide treatment while regions, such as the cerebral cortex and limbic nuclei, not responding.     

Anandamide, but not 2-arachidonoylglycerol, accumulates during in vivo neurodegeneration

Endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligands (endocannabinoids) may rescue neurons from glutamate excitotoxicity. As these substances also accumulate in cultured immature neurons following neuronal damage, elevated endocannabinoid concentrations may be interpreted as a putative neuroprotective response. However, it is not known how glutamatergic insults affect in vivo endocannabinoid homeostasis, i.e. N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), as well as other constituents of their lipid families, N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) and 2-monoacylglycerols (2-MAGs), respectively. Here we employed three in vivo neonatal rat models characterized by widespread neurodegeneration as a consequence of altered glutamatergic neurotransmission and assessed changes in endocannabinoid homeostasis. A 46-fold increase of cortical NAE concentrations (anandamide, 13-fold) was noted 24 h after intracerebral NMDA injection, while less severe insults triggered by mild concussive head trauma or NMDA receptor blockade produced a less pronounced NAE accumulation. By contrast, levels of 2-AG and other 2-MAGs were virtually unaffected by the insults employed, rendering it likely that key enzymes in biosynthetic pathways of the two different endocannabinoid structures are not equally associated to intracellular events that cause neuronal damage in vivo. Analysis of cannabinoid CB(1) receptor mRNA expression and binding capacity revealed that cortical subfields exhibited an up-regulation of these parameters following mild concussive head trauma and exposure to NMDA receptor blockade. This may suggest that mild to moderate brain injury may trigger elevated endocannabinoid activity via concomitant increase of anandamide levels, but not 2-AG, and CB(1) receptor density.     

PP2A: more than a reset switch to activate pRB proteins during the cell cycle and in response to signaling cues

In their active hypophosphorylated state, members of the retinoblastoma family of pocket proteins negatively regulate cell cycle progression at least in part by repressing expression of E2F-dependent genes. Mitogen-dependent activation of G1 and G1/S Cyclin Dependent Kinases (CDKs) results in coordinated hyperphosphorylation and inactivation of these proteins, which no longer bind and repress E2Fs. S and G2/M CDKs maintain pocket protein hyperphosphorylated through the end of mitosis. The inactivating action of inducible CDKs is opposed by the Ser/Thr protein phosphatases PP2A and PP1. Various trimeric PP2A holoenzymes have been implicated in dephosphorylation of pocket proteins in response to specific cellular signals and stresses or as part of an equilibrium with CDKs throughout the cell cycle. PP1 has specifically been implicated in dephosphorylation of pRB in late mitosis and early G1. This review is particularly focused on the emerging role of PP2A as a major hub for integration of growth suppressor signals that require rapid inactivation of pocket proteins. Of note, activation of particular PP2A holoenzymes triggers differential activation of pocket proteins in the presence of active CDKs.