The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a retrograde messenger system, consisting of lipid signaling molecules that bind to at least two G-protein-coupled receptors, Cannabinoid receptor 1 and 2 (CB1 and 2). As CB2 is primarily expressed on immune cells such as B cells, T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and microglia, it is of great interest how CB2 contributes to immune cell development and f...

Mammalian tissues contain two types of cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. The aim of our study was an evaluation of the influence of a single i.p. injection of a stable analogue of an endogenous cannabinoid anandamide--R-(+)-methanandamide (2.5 mg/kg) and CP 55,940 (0.25 mg/kg), which is an exogenous agonist of CB1 receptors, on the immunoreactivity of regulatory peptides, produced in rat thyro...

Brain expression of CB2 cannabinoid receptors has been much less well established and characterized in comparison to the expression of brain CB1 receptors. Since CB2 receptors are intensely expressed in peripheral and immune tissues, expression in brain microglia has been anticipated. Nevertheless, we now describe expression of CB2-receptor-like immunoreactivity in brain in neuronal patterns th...

Using two distinct anti-CB2 receptor Abs, we investigated the expression patterns of the peripheral cannabinoid receptor CB2 in human secondary lymphoid organs. Immunohistochemical analysis using an N-terminal specific anti-CB2 Ab revealed high protein expression in the germinal centers (GCs) of secondary follicles. A C-terminal specific anti-CB2 Ab, which only recognizes a nonphosphorylated in...

For over a decade, until recently, it was thought that marijuana acts by activating brain-type cannabinoid receptors called CB1, and that a second type called CB2 cannabinoid receptor was found only in peripheral tissues. Neuronal CB2 receptors in the brain had been controversial. We reported the discovery and functional presence of CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the mammalian brain that may be i...

BACKGROUND The cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) is reduced in podocytes of animals and humans with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), with activation of CB2 ameliorating albuminuria in animals. As albuminuria also is due to proximal tubule dysfunction, the aim of this study is to investigate tubular expression of CB2 under diabetic conditions in addition to the cell signaling pathways that under...