Abstract
Although β2-receceptor agonists are powerful bronchodilators and are at the forefront of asthma symptom relief, patients who use them frequently develop partial resistance to them. This can be a particularly serious problem during severe attacks, where high dose β2-agonist treatment is the front line therapy. Alternative bronchodilators are urgently needed. In this article we review the evidence for the bronchodilator effects of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and suggest that the mechanisms of action for these effects are sufficiently independent of the mechanisms of standard bronchodilators to warrant clinical investigation. Specifically, clinical trials testing the bronchodilator effects of THC in β2 agonist resistant asthmatic patients would show whether THC could fill the role of rescue bronchodilator in cases of β2 agonist resistance.
Keywords: Asthma, bronchodilation, β2-agonist, CB1 receptor, salbutamol, THC.
Current Drug Targets
Title:The Case for Cannabinoid CB1 Receptors as a Target for Bronchodilator Therapy for β-agonist Resistant Asthma
Volume: 19 Issue: 11
Author(s): John C. Ashton*Robert J. Hancox
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Otago School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin,New Zealand
Keywords: Asthma, bronchodilation, β2-agonist, CB1 receptor, salbutamol, THC.
Abstract: Although β2-receceptor agonists are powerful bronchodilators and are at the forefront of asthma symptom relief, patients who use them frequently develop partial resistance to them. This can be a particularly serious problem during severe attacks, where high dose β2-agonist treatment is the front line therapy. Alternative bronchodilators are urgently needed. In this article we review the evidence for the bronchodilator effects of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and suggest that the mechanisms of action for these effects are sufficiently independent of the mechanisms of standard bronchodilators to warrant clinical investigation. Specifically, clinical trials testing the bronchodilator effects of THC in β2 agonist resistant asthmatic patients would show whether THC could fill the role of rescue bronchodilator in cases of β2 agonist resistance.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Ashton C. John *, Hancox J. Robert, The Case for Cannabinoid CB1 Receptors as a Target for Bronchodilator Therapy for β-agonist Resistant Asthma, Current Drug Targets 2018; 19 (11) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389450118666170615101220
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1389450118666170615101220 |
Print ISSN 1389-4501 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-5592 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
New drug therapy for eye diseases
Eyesight is one of the most critical senses, accounting for over 80% of our perceptions. Our quality of life might be significantly affected by eye disease, including glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye, etc. Although the development of microinvasive ocular surgery reduces surgical complications and improves overall outcomes, medication therapy is ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
Related Articles
-
Lung Transplantation: The Role of Azithromycin in the Management of Patients with Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome
Current Medicinal Chemistry State of the Art Clinical Efficacy and Safety Evaluation of N-Acetylcarnosine Dipeptide Ophthalmic Prodrug. Principles for the Delivery, Self-Bioactivation, Molecular Targets and Interaction with a Highly Evolved Histidyl-Hydrazide Structure in the Treatment and Therapeutic Management of a Group of Sight-Threatening Eye Diseases
Current Clinical Pharmacology The Role of Natural Products in the Ligand Deorphanization of TRP Channels
Current Pharmaceutical Design Beneficial Actions of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Cardiovascular Diseases: But, How and Why?
Current Nutrition & Food Science Oxidative Stress and Gene Transcription in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Antioxidant Therapeutic Targets
Current Drug Targets - Inflammation & Allergy Part-Time α-Secretases: The Functional Biology of ADAM 9, 10 and 17
Current Alzheimer Research Synthetic 2-Methoxyestradiol Derivatives: Structure-Activity Relationships
Current Medicinal Chemistry Functional Chemokine Receptors in Allergic Diseases: Is CCR8 a Novel Therapeutic Target?
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Intestinal Permeability in Non-alcoholic Fatty LIVER Disease: The Gut-liver Axis
Reviews on Recent Clinical Trials Anti-Inflammatory Approaches that Target the Chemokine Network
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Vcsa1 Gene Peptides for the Treatment of Inflammatory and Allergic Reactions
Recent Patents on Inflammation & Allergy Drug Discovery Electrochemical Immunosensors for Disease Detection and Diagnosis
Current Medicinal Chemistry Targeted Drug Delivery to the Virus-Infected Airway; Complications and Remedies
Current Drug Delivery Post-Wortmannin Era: Novel Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Inhibitors with Potential Therapeutic Applications
Current Enzyme Inhibition The Immunomodulatory Effects of Physical Activity
Current Pharmaceutical Design Fast Dissolving/Disintegrating Dosage Forms: Growth from Immediate Release to Sustained Release and Traditional Medicines
Recent Patents on Drug Delivery & Formulation Sexual Dimorphism in Autoimmune Disease
Current Molecular Medicine Evidence of Probiotics in Prevention of Allergy and Asthma
Current Drug Targets - Inflammation & Allergy Current Concepts for Optimizing the Therapeutic Index of Glucocorticoid Receptor Ligands for Oral and Inhalative Use: Basic Considerations and Clinical Reality
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents Monoclonal Antibodies: A Target Therapy for Multiple Sclerosis
Inflammation & Allergy - Drug Targets (Discontinued)