Summary
Background:
Cannabinoid receptors mediate the psychopharmacological action of marijuana and have
been localized in the central and peripheral nervous system as well as on cells of
the immune system.
Objective:
Up to now, two cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) have been cloned and recent studies
on animal tissue gave evidence for the presence of cannabinoid receptors in the skin.
Methods:
In the present immunohistochemical investigation we determined the precise localization
of CB1 and CB2 in sections of human skin and in one case of mastocytosis.
Results:
CB1 and CB2 immunoreactivity was observed in cutaneous nerve fiber bundles, mast cells,
macrophages, epidermal keratinocytes, and the epithelial cells of hair follicles,
sebocytes and eccrine sweat glands. In epidermal keratinocytes, hair follicle and
sebaceous glands, CB1 and CB2 were distributed in a complementary fashion. Double-immunostaining
with an anti-CGRP antibody suggested the presence of cannabinoid receptors on small
afferent peptidergic nerves.
Conclusion:
The abundant distribution of cannabinoid receptors on skin nerve fibers and mast cells
provides implications for an anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive action of cannabinoid
receptor agonists and suggests their putatively broad therapeutic potential.
Abbreviations:
CB (cannabinoid receptor), CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide), FITC (fluorescein-isothiocyanate), NF (neurofilament), PGP (protein gene product)Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 25,
2005
Received in revised form:
January 18,
2005
Received:
September 18,
2004
Identification
Copyright
© 2005 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
