#Cannabinoids as novel #AntiInflammatory drugs
by Prakash Nagarkatti, et al.
October, 2009
Abstract:
"Cannabinoids are a group of compounds that mediate their effects through cannabinoid receptors. The discovery of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (#THC) as the major psychoactive principle in marijuana, as well as the identification of #cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands, has led to a significant growth in research aimed at understanding the physiological functions of cannabinoids. Cannabinoid receptors include CB1, which is predominantly expressed in the brain, and CB2, which is primarily found on the cells of the immune system. The fact that both CB1 and CB2 receptors have been found on #immune cells suggests that cannabinoids play an important role in the regulation of the immune system. Recent studies demonstrated that administration of THC into mice triggered marked apoptosis in T cells and dendritic cells, resulting in immunosuppression. In addition, several studies showed that cannabinoids downregulate #cytokine and chemokine production and, in some models, upregulate T-regulatory cells (Tregs) as a mechanism to suppress #inflammatory responses. The #endocannabinoid system is also involved in #immunoregulation. For example, administration of endocannabinoids or use of inhibitors of enzymes that break down the endocannabinoids, led to immunosuppression and recovery from immune-mediated injury to organs such as the liver. Manipulation of endocannabinoids and/or use of exogenous cannabinoids in vivo can constitute a potent treatment modality against inflammatory disorders. This review will focus on the potential use of cannabinoids as a new class of anti-inflammatory agents against a number of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases that are primarily triggered by activated T cells or other cellular immune components."
Executive summary
- Cannabinoids, the active components of #CannabisSativa, and endogenous cannabinoids mediate their effects through activation of specific cannabinoid receptors known as cannabinoid receptor 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2).
- The cannabinoid system has been shown both in vivo and in vitro to be involved in regulating the immune system through its immunomodulatory properties.
- Cannabinoids suppress inflammatory response and subsequently attenuate disease symptoms. This property of cannabinoids is mediated through multiple pathways such as induction of apoptosis in activated immune cells, suppression of cytokines and chemokines at inflammatory sites and upregulation of FoxP3+ regulatory T cells.
- Cannabinoids have been tested in several experimental models of autoimmune disorders such as #MultipleSclerosis, #RheumatoidArthritis, #colitis and #hepatitis and have been shown to protect the host from the pathogenesis through induction of multiple anti-inflammatory pathways.
- Cannabinoids may also be beneficial in certain types of #cancers that are triggered by #ChronicInflammation In such instances, cannabinoids can either directly inhibit tumor growth or suppress inflammation and tumor angiogenesis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2828614/
