Beneficial effects of cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R) in injured skeletal muscle post-contusion

• Tianshui Yu ^[1] ; Xu Wang ^[2] ; Rui Zhao ^[1] ; Jilong Zheng ^[1] ; Liqiang Li ^[1] ; Wenxiang Ma ^[1] ; Shutao Zhang ^[1] ; Dawei Guan ^[1]
  1. [1] China Medical University

     China Medical University

     Taiwán

     
  2. [2] Innovation Center of Judicial Civilization
• Localización: Histology and histopathology: cellular and molecular biology, ISSN-e 1699-5848, ISSN 0213-3911, Vol. 30, Nº. 6, 2015, págs. 737-749
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R) on the repair process of injured skeletal muscle, which could potentially lay solid foundations as a novel target for curing muscular fibrosis in future. A standardized rat model of skeletal muscle contusion was established, where rats were treated with the CB2R agonist JWH-133 or antagonist AM-630. The in vivo results revealed that CB2R activation with JWH-133 significantly diminished the fibrotic areas, downregulated the mRNA levels of collagen type I/ІІІ and augmented the number of multinucleated regenerating myofibers in the injured zones. The reasons leading to the aforementioned results were directly attributable to decreased mRNA levels of TGF-β1, FN-EIIIA and α- SMA, reduced accumulation of myofibroblasts, and concomitantly increased mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase-1/2. However, we observed contrasting changes in rats treated with the CB2R antagonist AM-630. These results revealed multiple effects of CB2R in systematically inhibiting fibrotic formation and improving muscle regeneration, alongside its potential for clinical application in patients with skeletal muscle injuries and diseases.