“Cannabinoid agonists might serve as neuroprotective agents in neurodegenerative disorders… Cannabinoids may also offer neuroprotection in Huntington’s disease (HD)…
Here, we examined this hypothesis in a rat model ofHuntington’s disease (HD)…
Our results showed that only compounds able to activate CB2 receptors were capable of protecting striatal projection neurons from malonate-induced death. That CB2 receptor agonists are neuroprotective was confirmed…
…neuroprotection was attained exclusively with antioxidant cannabinoids like Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC; or cannabidiol (CBD)…
In summary, our results demonstrate that stimulation of CB2 receptors protect the striatum against malonate toxicity, likely through a mechanism involving glial cells, in particular reactive microglial cells in which CB2 receptors would be upregulated in response to the lesion. Activation of these receptors would reduce the generation of proinflammatory molecules like TNF-alpha.
Altogether, our results support the hypothesis that CB2 receptors could constitute a therapeutic target to slowdown neurodegeneration in HD.”