The Potential Use of Cannabis in Tissue Fibrosis

Abstract

Fibrosis is a condition characterized by thickening or/and scarring of various tissues. Fibrosis may develop in almost all tissues and organs, and it may be one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. It provokes excessive scarring that excels the usual wound healing response to trauma in numerous organs. Currently, very little can be done to prevent tissue fibrosis, and it is almost impossible to reverse it. Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs are among the few treatments that may be efficient in preventing fibrosis. Numerous publications suggest that cannabinoids and extracts of Cannabis sativa have potent anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrogenic properties. In this review, we describe the types and mechanisms of fibrosis in various tissues and discuss various strategies for prevention and dealing with tissue fibrosis. We further introduce cannabinoids and their potential for the prevention and treatment of fibrosis, and therefore for extending healthy lifespan.

Linking medicinal cannabis to autotaxin–lysophosphatidic acid signaling

“…Recently, the potential use of medicinal cannabis in tissue fibrosis has been proposed ( Pryimak et al, 2021 ). In this regard, it is noteworthy to mention the role of ATX in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.…”

ACPA Alleviates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis by Inhibiting TGF-β-Smad2/3 Signaling-Mediated Lung Fibroblast Activation

“…Correia-Sá et al found that CB 1 R agonist ACEA increases, and antagonist AM251 reduces, collagen deposition induced by TGF-β in the fibroblasts obtained from abdominal human skin ( Correia-Sá et al, 2021 ). However, it has been recently proposed that cannabinoids, natural CB 1 R agonists, may manifest as profibrotic or antifibrotic agents in skin fibrosis ( Pryimak et al, 2021 ). Moreover, CB 1 R inhibitor rimonabant or the deletion of CB 1 R did not prevent, limit, or reverse fibrosis in a substantial body of studies ( Teixeira-Clerc et al, 2006 ; Cinar et al, 2016 ; Wang et al, 2021 ).…”

Linking medicinal cannabis to autotaxin-lysophosphatic acid signaling

“…Recently, the potential use of medicinal cannabis in tissue fibrosis has been proposed 40 . In this regard, it is noteworthy to mention the role of ATX in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).…”