Cannabinoid receptor 2 expression in human proximal tubule cells is regulated by albumin independent of ERK1/2 signaling.

“The cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) is reduced in podocytes of animals and humans with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), with activation of CB2 ameliorating albuminuria in animals. As albuminuria also is due to proximal tubule dysfunction, the aim of this study is to investigate tubular expression of CB2 under diabetic conditions in addition to the cell signaling pathways that underlie these changes…

We have demonstrated that internalization of albumin is required to reduce CB2 mRNA and protein expression in proximal tubules in vitro. Consequently, altered expression of CB2 in both the podocytes and tubules may contribute to the albuminuria observed in T2DM.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24280624