Tag Archives: CB(1) and CB(2) receptors

Cannabinoid CB2 receptors protect against alcoholic liver disease by regulating Kupffer cell polarization in mice.

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“Activation of Kupffer cells plays a central role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease.

Because cannabinoid CB2 receptors (CB2) display potent anti-inflammatory properties, we investigated their role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease, focusing on the impact of CB2 on Kupffer cell polarization and the consequences on liver steatosis.

Altogether, these findings demonstrate that CB2 receptors display beneficial effects on alcohol-induced inflammation by regulating M1/M2 balance in Kupffer cells, thereby reducing hepatocyte steatosis via paracrine interactions between Kupffer cells and hepatocytes.

These data identify CB2 agonists as potential therapeutic agents for the management of alcoholic liver disease.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21735467

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/liver-disease/

Tonic Modulation of Nociceptive Behavior and Allodynia by Cannabinoid Receptors in Formalin Test in Rats.

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“Cannabinoids produce anti-nociceptive and anti-hyperalgesic effects in acute, inflammatory and neuropathic pain models.

The current study investigated the role of cannabinoid (CB1 and CB2) receptors in modulating formalin-induced nociceptive behavior and mechanical allodynia in the rat…

The results indicate that CB1 and CB2 receptors mediate a tonically inhibitory action on formalin-induced inflammatory pain, especially long-term allodynia, in bilateral hind paws.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25687494

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/pain-2/

Cannabinoid receptor type 2, but not type 1, is up-regulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of children affected by autistic disorders.

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“Autistic disorders (ADs) are heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorders arised by the interaction of genes and environmental factors. Dysfunctions in social interaction and communication skills, repetitive and stereotypic verbal and non-verbal behaviours are common features of ADs.

There are no defined mechanisms of pathogenesis, rendering curative therapy very difficult…

In this study, we investigated the involvement of cannabinoid system…

Our data indicate CB2 receptor as potential therapeutic target for the pharmacological management of the autism care.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23585028

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/autism/

Regulation of inflammation and proliferation of human bladder carcinoma cells by type-1 and type-2 cannabinoid receptors.

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“Pro-inflammatory cytokines, growth and angiogenic factors released by leukocytes are involved in carcinogenesis and cancer progression, but they are also crucial for fighting tumour growth and spreading.

We have previously demonstrated that endocannabinoids modulate cell-to-cell crosstalk during inflammation. Here, we investigated the inflammatory and tumourigenic properties of endocannabinoids in a human urinary bladdercarcinoma cell line…

Collectively, these findings suggest that CB receptors may play distinct roles in cancer biology, depending on the specific ligand employed.

CONCLUSIONS:

The in vivo assessment of the role of CB receptors in inflammation and cancer might be instrumental in broadening the understanding about bladder cancer biology.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25445433

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/bladder-cancer/

Activation of cannabinoid receptor 2 attenuates synovitis and joint distruction in collagen-induced arthritis.

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“Recent studies have suggested immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) activation, which is devoid of psychoactivity. We have demonstrated the expression of CB2R in synovial tissue from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and its specific activation shows inhibitory effects on fibroblast-like synoviocytes. However, it is still unclear whether selective activation of CB2R inhibits joint inflammation or protects joint damage in RA.

CONCLUSIONS:

Activation of CB2R by HU-308 has therapeutic potential for RA to suppress synovitis and alleviate joint destruction by inhibiting the production of autoantibodies and proinflammatory cytokines.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25601571

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/arthritis/

Proapoptotic effect of endocannabinoids in prostate cancer cells.

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“Recent evidence shows that derivatives of Cannabis sativa and its analogs may exert a protective effect against different types of oncologic pathologies.

The purpose of the present study was to detect the presence of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) on cancer cells with a prostatic origin and to evaluate the effect of the in vitro use of synthetic analogs…

Based on these results, we suggest that endocannabinoids may be a beneficial option for the treatment of prostate cancer that has become nonresponsive to common therapies.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25606819

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/prostate-cancer/

Cannabinoid CB1 receptors in the dorsal hippocampus and prelimbic medial prefrontal cortex modulate anxiety-like behavior in rats: additional evidence.

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“Endocannabinoids (ECBs) such as anandamide (AEA) act by activating cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) or 2 (CB2) receptors. The anxiolytic effect of drugs that facilitate ECB effects is associated with increase in AEA levels in several encephalic areas, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC).

Activation of CB1 receptors by CB1 agonists injected directly into these areas is usually anxiolytic.

However, depending on the encephalic region being investigated and on the stressful experiences, opposite effects were observed, as reported in the ventral HIP. In addition, contradictory results have been reported after CB1 activation in the dorsal HIP (dHIP).

Therefore, in the present paper we have attempted to verify if directly interfering with ECB metabolism/reuptake in the prelimbic (PL) portion of the medial PFC (MPFC) and dHIP would produce different effects in two conceptually distinct animal models: the elevated plus maze (EPM) and the Vogel conflict test (VCT).

We observed drugs which interfere with ECB reuptake/metabolism in both the PL and in the dentate gyrus of the dHIP induced anxiolytic-like effect, in both the EPM and in the VCT via CB1 receptors, suggesting CB1 signaling in these brain regions modulate defensive responses to both innate and learned threatening stimuli.

This data further strengthens previous results indicating modulation of hippocampal and MPFC activity via CB1 by ECBs, which could be therapeutically targeted to treat anxiety disorders.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25595265

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/anxiety-2/

Endocannabinoid-mediated modulation of Gq/11 protein-coupled receptor signaling-induced vasoconstriction and hypertension.

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“Activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can induce vasoconstriction via calcium signal-mediated and Rho-dependent pathways…

Our aim was to provide evidence that GPCR signaling-induced 2-AG production and activation of vascular type1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1R) is capable of reducing agonist-induced vasoconstriction and hypertension…

Pharmacological or genetic loss of CB1R function augmented AngII-induced blood pressure rise in mice.

These data demonstrate that vasoconstrictor effect of GPCR agonists is attenuated via Gq/11-mediated vascular endocannabinoid formation.

Agonist-induced endocannabinoid-mediated CB1R activation is a significant physiological modulator of vascular tone.

Thus, the selective modulation of GPCR signaling-induced endocannabinoid release has a therapeutic potential in case of increased vascular tone and hypertension.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25595485

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/

[Potential applications of marijuana and cannabinoids in medicine]

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“Cannabinoids, psychoactive substances present in cannabis, have been known to mankind for hundreds of years.

Apart from 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) substances found in the cannabis herb with the highest toxicological value are cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN).

The discovery of CB1 and CB2 receptors, located in various tissues (ranging from the brain to peripheral tissues), has defined the potential objective of these new chemical substances’ effects.

Many studies on the application of cannabinoids in the treatment of various diseases such as diabetes, neoplasms, inflammatory diseases, neurological conditions, pain and vomitting were conducted.

Drugs containing e.g. THC appear on the pharmaceutical market.

Substances affecting cannabinoid receptors may show beneficial effects…”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25518584

 

 

Cannabinoids in experimental stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

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“Cannabinoids (CBs) show promise as neuroprotectants with some agents already licensed in humans for other conditions. We systematically reviewed CBs in preclinical stroke to guide further experimental protocols…

Cannabinoids reduced infarct volume in transient and permanent ischemia and in all subclasses: endocannabinoids, CB1/CB2 ligands, CB2 ligands, cannabidiol, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and HU-211. Early and late neuroscores significantly improved with CB use…

Overall, CBs significantly reduced infarct volume and improve functional outcome in experimental stroke.”

 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25492113

http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/stroke-2/