Targeting the CB (2) receptor to delay progression of cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases are still the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Endothelial dysfunction followed by inflammation of the blood vessel wall results in the formation of an atherosclerotic lesion that leads to myocardial infarction and stroke. The rise of main risk factors such as obesity and diabetes in industrialized as well as developing countries further enhances the burden of vascular disease. Heart failure may develop as a result of large myocardial infarctions or can be developed by genetic predisposition or infectious disorders. Recently, the endocannabinoid system has emerged as a new therapeutic target in a variety of diseases correlated with inflammation and tissue damage, including those of the cardiovascular system. This versatile system, comprising of two receptors (CB1 and CB2), their endogenous ligands (endocannabinoids), and metabolic enzymes, has been involved in a wide variety of disease conditions, extending from neurological diseases to cancer. CB2 receptors have gained more interest for its valuable immunomodulatory activity that can be attained without provoking psychotropic effects through CB1. Recent studies have shed light on the cardioprotective roles of CB2 in different cardiovascular diseases, an illness that recently takes more lives each year in Western countries than any other disorder or injury. The aim of this chapter is to update on recent findings on the role of CB2 receptors in cardiovascular diseases including hypertension, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion syndrome, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and myocardial remodeling.