Cited by 311Cannabis and Cannabinoid ResearchOsteoarthritis Treatment and MechanismsPain Mechanisms and Treatments

Characterisation of the cannabinoid receptor system in synovial tissue and fluid in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis

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Richardson, Denise, Pearson, Richard G, Kurian, Nisha, Latif, M Liaque, Garle, Michael J, Barrett, David A, Kendall, David A, Scammell, Brigitte E +2 more·2008·Arthritis Research & Therapy

Abstract

Introduction: Cannabis-based medicines have a number of therapeutic indications, including anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. The endocannabinoid receptor system, including the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB 1) and receptor 2 (CB 2) and the endocannabinoids, are implicated in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes. Pre-clinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that cannabis-based drugs have therapeutic potential in inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and multiple sclerosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether the key elements of the endocannabinoid signalling system, which produces immunosuppression and analgesia, are expressed in the synovia of patients with osteoarthritis (OA) or RA. Methods: Thirty-two OA and 13 RA patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were included in this study. Clinical staging was conducted from x-rays scored according to Kellgren-Lawrence and Larsen scales, and synovitis of synovial biopsies was graded. Endocannabinoid levels were quantified in synovial fluid by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The expression of CB 1 and CB 2 protein and RNA in synovial biopsies was investigated. Functional activity of these receptors was determined with mitogen-activated protein kinase assays. To assess the impact of OA and RA on this receptor system, levels of endocannabinoids in the synovial fluid of patients and non-inflamed healthy volunteers were compared. The activity of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the predominant catabolic endocannabinoid enzyme, was measured in synovium. Results: CB 1 and CB 2 protein and RNA were present in the synovia of OA and RA patients. Cannabinoid receptor stimulation of fibroblast-like cells from OA and RA patients produced a time-dependent phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-1 and ERK-2 which was significantly blocked by the CB 1 antagonist SR141716A. The endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonyl glycerol (2-AG) were identified in the synovial fluid of OA and RA patients. However, neither AEA nor 2-AG was detected in synovial fluid from normal volunteers. FAAH was active in the synovia of OA and RA patients and was sensitive to inhibition by URB597 (3'-(aminocarbonyl) [1,1'-biphenyl]-3-yl)-cyclohexylcarbamate). Conclusion: Our data predict that the cannabinoid receptor system present in the synovium may be an important therapeutic target for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with OA and RA.

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  • AEA and 2-AG are present in the synovial fluid of patients affected by both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, but not in healthy controls, suggesting an upregulation in response to inflammation and cartilage degradation.

    “Interestingly, AEA and 2-AG are present in the synovial fluid of patients affected by both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, but not in healthy controls, suggesting an upregulation in response to inflammation and cartilage degradation (Richardson et al, 2008).”
  • Fibroblast-like synoviocytes from patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis express the CB1 and CB2 receptors.

    “FLSs from patients affected by rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis express the CB 1 and CB 2 receptors (Richardson et al, 2008).”

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Authors
Richardson, D., Pearson, R. G., Kurian, N., Latif, M. L., Garle, M. J., Barrett, D. A., Kendall, D. A., Scammell, B. E., Reeve, A. J., & Chapman, V.
Affiliations
  • University of Nottingham (GB)
  • GlaxoSmithKline (United Kingdom) (GB)
Corresponding author
Chapman, Victoria
Venue
Arthritis Research & Therapy
Published
2008-04-16
Volume
10
Issue
2
Pages
R43-R43
ISSN
1478-6354 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2013381732
Cited by
303
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 18
FWCI
6.80
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Arthritis Research & Therapy (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • University of Nottingham
  • Directorate for Biological Sciences
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
Keywords
cannabinoid receptors, CB1 receptor, CB2 receptor, endocannabinoid system, synovial fluid, synovium, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, fatty acid amide hydrolase, ERK1/2 phosphorylation, SR141716A, URB597, total knee arthroplasty, synovitis, endocannabinoid signaling, anti-inflammatory therapy
MeSH terms
Rimonabant, Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolases, Aged, Amidohydrolases, Arachidonic Acids, Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Cells, Cultured, Chromatography, Liquid, Female, Fibroblasts, Glycerides, Humans, Knee Joint, Male, Middle Aged, Osteoarthritis, Phosphorylation, Piperidines, Pyrazoles, RNA, Messenger, Mass Spectrometry, Synovial Fluid, Synovial Membrane, Blotting, Western, Cytokines, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1, Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3, Polyunsaturated Alkamides, Endocannabinoids

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