A novel near-infrared fluorescence imaging probe that preferentially binds to cannabinoid receptors CB2R over CB1R.

“The type 2 cannabinoid receptors (CB2R) have gained much attention recently due to their important regulatory role in a host of pathophysiological processes.

However, the exact biological function of CB2R and how this function might change depending on disease progression remains unclear and could be better studied with highly sensitive and selective imaging tools for identifying the receptors.

Here we report the first near infrared fluorescence imaging probe (NIR760-XLP6) that binds preferentially to CB2R over the type 1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1R).

These findings indicate that NIR760-XLP6 is a promising imaging tool for the study of CB2R regulation.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25916505

The cannabinoid receptor 2 is involved in acute rejection of cardiac allografts.

“Acute rejection of cardiac allografts is a major risk factor limiting survival of heart transplant recipients. Rejection is triggered by dendritic cell (DC) mediated activation of host T cells, amongst others CD4+ T helper (TH)1- and TH17 cells.

The cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) is an important modulator of cellular immune responses…

These results demonstrate that CB2 modulates in vitro cytokine responses via DCs and directly via its influence on TH1/TH17 differentiation.

These findings and the fact that allograft rejection is enhanced in Cnr2-/- mice suggest that CB2 may be a promising therapeutic target in organ transplantation.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25744392