title: The CB2receptor and its role as a regulator of inflammation.
abstract: The CB2receptor is the peripheral receptor for cannabinoids. It is mainly expressed in immune tissues, highlighting the possibility that the endocannabinoid system has an immunomodulatory role. In this respect, the CB2receptor was shown to modulate immune cell functions, both in cellulo and in animal models of inflammatory diseases. In this regard, numerous studies have reported that mice lacking the CB2receptor have an exacerbated inflammatory phenotype. This suggests that therapeutic strategies aiming at modulating CB2signaling could be promising for the treatment of various inflammatory conditions. Herein, we review the pharmacology of the CB2receptor, its expression pattern, and the signaling pathways induced by its activation. We next examine the regulation of immune cell functions by the CB2receptor and the evidence obtained from primary human cells, immortalized cell lines, and animal models of inflammation. Finally, we discuss the possible therapies targeting the CB2receptor and the questions that remain to be addressed to determine whether this receptor could be a potential target to treat inflammatory disease.
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, G1V 4G5, Canada.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Turcotte
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, G1V 4G5, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Renée
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Blanchet
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, G1V 4G5, Canada.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laviolette
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche de l'Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Département de médecine, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, G1V 4G5, Canada. nicolas.flamand@criucpq.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5944-7200
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Flamand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2
keywords: CB2 receptor; Cannabinoid; Endocannabinoid; Inflammation; Leukocytes