Cannabinoid receptors in acute and chronic complications of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is the primary cause of myocardial infarction and stroke, which occur after sudden thrombotic occlusion of an artery. A growing body of evidence suggests that cannabinoid signalling plays a fundamental role in atherosclerosis development and its clinical manifestations. Thus, CB 2 receptors are protective in myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion and implicated in the modulation of chemotaxis, which is crucial for the recruitment of leukocytes during inflammation. Delta‐9‐Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)‐mediated activation has been shown to inhibit atherosclerotic plaque progression in a CB 2 dependent manner. Although CB 1 and CB 2 expression has been reported on platelets, their involvement in thrombus formation is still controversial. While several reports suggest that CB 1 receptors may have a relevant role in neuroprotection after ischaemic stroke, recent studies show the protective effects in various forms of neuroprotection are not related to CB 1 stimulation, and a protective role of CB 1 blockade has also been reported. In addition, vascular and myocardial CB 1 receptors contribute to the modulation of blood pressure and heart rate. It is tempting to suggest that pharmacological modulation of the endocannabinoid system is a potential novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of atherosclerosis. For these purposes, it is important to better understand the complex mechanisms of endocannabinoid signalling and potential consequences of its pharmacological modulation, as it may have both pro‐ and anti‐atherosclerotic effects. British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 153 , 290–298; doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0707517 ; published online 29 October 2007