“Endotoxaemia can complicate hepatic ischaemia-reperfusion (IR) injury. Endocannabinoids appear to modulate the haemodynamic alterations and cytokine response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Thus, we aimed to determine the effect of the endocannabinoid CB1-receptor antagonist Rimonabant in a model of hepatic IR injury complicated by endotoxaemia.”
“Liver injury and neutrophil infiltration occurring in the late-phase of LPS-enhanced IR were significantly reduced by CB1-receptor antagonism.”
“CONCLUSIONS:
This study demonstrates that CB1-receptor antagonism protects the liver against LPS-enhanced IR injury by interfering with the inflammatory response that causes the late, neutrophil-dependent phase of reperfusion injury, although the prevention of the transient endotoxin-related hypotension occurring early during reperfusion may be also involved.”