New targets for Bone Drugs: Cannaboind Receptor Regulates Bone Remodeling
Thursday, August 20th, 2009If you live long enough, you will suffer from a bone disease. So, there is a tremendous need for osteoporosis and bone disease treatments. A short article published in the journal of Cell Metabolism provides insights into how cannabinoid receptors regulate bone formation. Furthermore, the research team is from the UK at the University of Edinburgh and the BBC published a short article on their research, entitled, “Cannabis may prevent Osteoporosis.”
Bone Background
Bone is a very dynamic tissue which is constantly undergoing remodeling. And it is the remodeling of bone that in part, gives it strength. The remodeling of bone is regulated by a balance between two types of cells: Osteoblast and Osteoclasts. Osteoblasts lay down bone and Osteoclasts dissolve bone. The remodeling process allows your body to replace all your bone about every 8 years or so. Disease begins when the remodeling process becomes unbalanced. If your osteoblasts can’t keep up with osteoclasts, then you will begin to lose bone…the net loss or gain of bone is bad.
The cannabinoid receptors are found on bone cells and on nerves that run through bone.
Mice without Cannabinoid receptors
It has been established that mice without CB1 or CB2 receptors develop osteoporosis early in life, among other ailments. The author’s findings provide a much needed, deeper understanding of why cannabinoid receptors are important.
Bone stem cells AKA Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) can become bone cells or other cells such as fat cells AKA adipocytes. Without the CB1 receptor MSCs had an enhanced maturation into adipocytes (fat cells) and less of an ability to become bone cells. Fewer osteoblasts will lead to a loss of bone. Thus way more fat was being made and sintegrated into bone.
The story doesn’t end there. Osteoclasts, the bone dissolving cells, are inhibited as well. So, young mice without cannabinoid receptors have thicker bones during bone growth and development.
However, increasing bone mass is not for everyone, heavier bones are bad too. Don’t let the X-man Wolverine fool you with his indestructible skeleton; thicker bones are not as flexible or as dynamic as healthy bone and can lead to increased breaks and injuries.
The authors conclude that the Cb1 receptor has a “unique role” in bone development and metabolism. Since, it appears that the receptor continues to affect bone through out life, the authors speculate that cannabinoid drugs could be used to:
1) Increase bone mass during growth and development–in theory correcting bone related deficits in children
2) Maintain bone and combat osteoporosis in old age–keeping all of us healthy and strong
However, the authors don’t speculate on a particular treatment or how best to utilize these receptors. Yet, I can’t help to think that the ancient Indian drink Bhang could become a potential home remedy–I mean I wonder what the epidemiological data would say about women, cannabis use, and bone health from places like India. Also, gathering bone data (bone density, etc) from cannabis users,say 45 and older may provide additional insights.
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Thanks,
Jahan
