Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Anti-inflammatory and immunological properties of cannabinoids have been reported in several tissues. Also, cannabinoid receptors type 2 (CB2) were reported to be expressed in osteoblast and osteoclast, suggesting a key role in bone metabolism. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of the treatment with the cannabinoid-2 receptor agonist HU-308 in the oral health of rats subjected to lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced periodontitis.
METHODS:
Periodontitis was induced by LPS (1 mg/ml) injected into the gingival tissue of the first upper and lower molars, and into the inter-dental space between the first and second molars, three days a week, during 6 weeks. HU-308 (500 ng/ml) was applied topically daily on the gingival tissue.
RESULTS:
Alveolar bone loss resultant from LPS-induced periodontitis was significantly attenuated with HU-308 treatment, measured by macroscopic and histological examination. The treatment also reduced the gingival production of inflammatory mediators augmented in LPS-injected rats, such as inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) activity (LPS: 90.18±36.51 vs. LPS+HU: 16.37±4.73 pmol/min/mg prot., p<0.05), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) (LPS: 185.70±25.63 vs. LPS+HU: 95.89±17.47 pg/mg prot., p<0.05) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) (LPS: 159.20±38.70 vs. LPS+HU: 71.25±17.75 pg/mg w.w., p<0.05). Additionally, HU-308 treatment prevented the inhibitory effect of LPS-induced periodontitis on the salivary secretory response to pilocarpine. Moreover, iNOS activity and PGE2 content, which were increased by LPS-induced periodontitis in the submandibular gland, returned to control values after HU-308 treatment.
CONCLUSION:
This study demonstrates the anti-inflammatory, osteoprotective and pro-homeostatic effects of HU-308 in oral tissues of rats with LPS-induced periodontitis.
KEYWORDS:
Anti-inflammatory agents; Periodontitis; Saliva
- PMID:
- 26846967
- [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]
