The cannabinoid receptor-2 is involved in allergic inflammation.

Abstract

AIM:

To investigate the role of cannabinoid receptor-2 (CB2) in allergic inflammation in CB2 knockout (CB2-KO) mice.

MAIN METHODS:

The swelling reaction of the pinna to various stimuli was compared between CB2-KO and wild-type (WT) mice in terms of edema and acanthosis.

KEY FINDINGS:

Ear swelling induced by repeated application of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene in CB2-KO mice was significantly decreased compared with that in WT mice. In an ovalbumin model, pinna edema was significantly suppressed in CB2-KO mice in comparison with that in WT mice. The contribution of CB2 to edema was investigated in a more extreme dermatitis model using oxazolone. Delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions in this model were also suppressed in CB2-KO mice. In each of these three different allergic dermatitis models, there was a significant decrease in edema and acanthosis in CB2-KO mice compared with WT mice.

SIGNIFICANCE:

These results clearly demonstrate that CB2 and its endogenous ligands participate not only in the acute, edematous phase of allergic dermatitis, but also in the chronic irreversible acanthosis reaction.

• Authors: Takayuki Mimura, Yoshifumi Ueda, Yoshihiro Watanabe, Takayuki Sugiura
• Journal: Life sciences (Life Sci) Vol. 90 Issue 21-22 Pg. 862-6 (Jun 06 2012) ISSN: 1879-0631 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 22525379 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2
• Oxazolone
• Ovalbumin

Topics

• Animals
• Dermatitis (immunology, physiopathology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Edema (immunology, physiopathology)
• Hypersensitivity, Delayed (immunology)
• Inflammation (immunology, physiopathology)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Knockout
• Ovalbumin (immunology)
• Oxazolone (immunology)
• Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 (genetics, metabolism)