Reducing progression of atherosclerosis / THC

ironjustice@aol.com · medicine forum Guru Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 1522

Nature. 2005 Apr 7;434(7034):782-6. Related Articles, Links

Comment in:
Nature. 2005 Apr 7;434(7034):708-9.

Low dose oral cannabinoid therapy reduces progression of
atherosclerosis in mice.

Steffens S, Veillard NR, Arnaud C, Pelli G, Burger F, Staub C, Zimmer
A, Frossard JL, Mach F.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Foundation for Medical
Research, University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, 1211 Geneva,
Switzerland.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease, and is the primary
cause of heart disease and stroke in Western countries. Derivatives of
cannabinoids such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) modulate immune
functions and therefore have potential for the treatment of
inflammatory diseases. We investigated the effects of THC in a murine
model of established atherosclerosis. Oral administration of THC (1 mg
kg(-1) per day) resulted in significant inhibition of disease
progression. This effective dose is lower than the dose usually
associated with psychotropic effects of THC. Furthermore, we detected
the CB2 receptor (the main cannabinoid receptor expressed on immune
cells) in both human and mouse atherosclerotic plaques. Lymphoid cells
isolated from THC-treated mice showed diminished proliferation capacity
and decreased interferon-gamma secretion. Macrophage chemotaxis, which
is a crucial step for the development of atherosclerosis, was also
inhibited in vitro by THC. All these effects were completely blocked by
a specific CB2 receptor antagonist. Our data demonstrate that oral
treatment with a low dose of THC inhibits atherosclerosis progression
in the apolipoprotein E knockout mouse model, through pleiotropic
immunomodulatory effects on lymphoid and myeloid cells. Thus, THC or
cannabinoids with activity at the CB2 receptor may be valuable targets
for treating atherosclerosis.

PMID: 15815632 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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