“… we have reported here for the first time the potent and efficacious modulatory effects by some phytocannabinoids on TRPA1- and TRPM8-mediated [Ca2+]ielevation…
Our findings suggest that phytocannabinoids and cannabis extracts exert some of their pharmacological actions also by interacting with TRPA1 and TRPM8 channels, with potential implications for the treatment of pain and cancer.”
“Studies have suggested that the endocannabinoid system is implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia…
Our results indicate that the schizophrenia-like behaviors displayed by SHR are differently altered by cannabinoid and vanilloid drugs when compared to control animals and suggest the endocannabinoid and the vanilloid systems as a potential target for the treatment of schizophrenia.”
“Clinical and neurobiological findings suggest that the cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system may be implicated in the pathophysiology and treatment of schizophrenia…
Our results reinforce the role of the endocannabinoid system in the sensorimotor gating impairment related to schizophrenia, and point to cannabinoid drugs as potential therapeutic strategies.”
“The major psychoactive component of marijuana, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), also acts to suppress inflammatory responses. Receptors for THC, CB1, CB2, and GPR55, are differentially expressed on multiple cell types including monocytes and macrophages, which are important modulators of inflammation in vivo and target cells for HIV-1 infection. Use of recreational and medicinal marijuana is increasing, but the consequences of marijuana exposure on HIV-1 infection are unclear. Ex vivo studies were designed to investigate effects on HIV-1 infection in macrophages exposed to THC during or following differentiation.
THC treatment of primary human monocytes during differentiation reduced HIV-1 infection…
“Indevus Pharmaceuticals Inc is developing ajulemic acid, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug derived from tetrahydrocannabinol, for the potential treatment of pain, inflammation and cystitis.”
“Cannabinoid receptors are expressed in the urinary bladder and may affect bladder function… CB2 receptors may be a viable target for pharmacological treatment of bladder inflammation and associated pain…
In this study, we have shown that CB1 and CB2 are present in the bladder and its innervation, and that expression of CB2 is increased in the bladders of rats with acute and chronic cystitis. Bladder inflammation and pain is the summation of a number of biological events, including participation of the endocannabinoid system.
The endocannabinoid system could play an important role in modulation of severity of bladder inflammation and pain, and it may be possible to take advantage of the cannabinoid system in the bladder to decrease inflammation and resultant pain.”
“To determined the localization of CB(1) and CB(2) receptors in rat bladder and investigate the effect of a mixed CB(1)/CB(2) receptor agonist, ajulemic acid (AJA), on chemically evoked release of the sensory neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)…
CB(1) and CB(2) receptors are localized in the urothelium of rat bladder, and application of AJA inhibits the evoked release of CGRP by acting on CB(1) and CB(2) receptors.
These findings identify a potential new pathway for study in the evaluation and treatment of painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis.”
“We investigated whether treatment with the selective cannabinoid receptor 2 agonist… would ameliorate the severity of experimental cystitis…
Treatment with a selective cannabinoid receptor 2 agonist decreased severity of established acrolein induced cystitis and inhibited bladder inflammation associated increased referred mechanical sensitivity and increased bladder urinary frequency.
Our data indicate that cannabinoid receptor 2 is a potential therapeutic target for treatment of painful inflammatory bladder diseases.”
“Cannabinoids have been shown to exert analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, and the effects of cannabinoids are mediated primarily by cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 (CB1and CB2). Both CB1 and CB2 are present in bladders of various species, including human, monkey, and rodents, and it appears that CB2 is highly expressed in urothelial cells…
The results of the current study indicate that CB2 is a potential therapeutic target for treatment of bladder inflammation and pain in patients.”
“Recent experimental results have shown a functional role of the endocannabinoid system in urinary bladder. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of selective cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptor agonists in a mouse model of interstitial cystitis…
Taken together, these findings strongly suggest that modulation of the cannabinoid CB2 receptors might be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of bladder diseases and conditions characterized by inflammation, such as interstitial cystitis.”