Topical cannabinoid receptor 1 agonist attenuates the cutaneous inflammatory responses in oxazolone-induced atopic dermatitis model

• Published in: International journal of dermatology 2015-10, Vol.54 (10), p.e401-e408
• Main Authors: Kim, Hyun Jong, Kim, Bongwoo, Park, Bu Man, Jeon, Jeong Eun, Lee, Sin Hee, Mann, Shivtaj, Ahn, Sung Ku, Hong, Seung-Phil, Jeong, Se Kyoo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Administration, Cutaneous; Animals; Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists - pharmacology; Chronic Disease; Dermatitis, Atopic - chemically induced; Dermatitis, Atopic - drug therapy; Dermatitis, Atopic - pathology; Dermatitis, Atopic - physiopathology; Dermatitis, Contact - drug therapy; Dermatitis, Contact - pathology; Disease Models, Animal; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - pharmacology; Female; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Oxazolone; Permeability - drug effects; Propanolamines - pharmacology; Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 - agonists; Skin - metabolism; Skin Physiological Phenomena - drug effects; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate - analogs & derivatives; Water Loss, Insensible
• ISSN: 0011-9059; 1365-4632
• DOI: 10.1111/ijd.12841

Summary Background Even with the widespread clinical use of cannabinoid receptor (CBR) stimulating compounds, such as palmitoylethanolamine, the role of CBR agonists on inflammatory skin diseases is not yet fully understood. This study was performed to investigate the effects of CBR agonists on skin inflammation, using acute and chronic inflammation animal models. Methods The effectiveness of the newly synthesized cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) agonists was determined using in vitro assays. Markers for epidermal permeability barrier function and skin inflammation were measured, and histological assessments were performed for evaluation. Results Topical application of CB1R‐specific agonist significantly accelerated the recovery of epidermal permeability barrier function and showed anti‐inflammatory activity in both acute and chronic inflammation models. Histological assessments also confirmed the anti‐inflammatory effects, which is consistent with previous reports. Conclusions All of the results suggest that topical application of CB1R‐specific agonist can be beneficial for alleviating the inflammatory symptoms in chronic skin diseases, including atopic dermatitis.