Cannabinoid receptor blockers, new drugs for osteoporosis ?

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Cannabinoid receptor blockers, new drugs for osteoporosis ?

Researchers at University of Aberdeen have made a finding that could

pave the way for new drugs to treat osteoporosis and other bone

diseases.

Their studies also suggest that cannabis use might affect users’ bone

health, although researchers stress that further research would be

required to confirm this.

As part of an Arthritis Research Campaign funded study into brittle

bones and other diseases, the research team explored the effects of

chemicals produced naturally in our body called endogenous cannabinoids

on bone.

Cannabinoids act in the same way that cannabis does by attaching

themselves to receptors in our body which then play a part in a number

of the body’s processes including controlling our appetite.

The researchers reveal their discovery that these receptors are also

present in bone cells and play a crucial role in regulating bone

density and bone turnover.

They also discovered that if they used drugs to block the cannabinoid

receptors, this was highly effective in preventing bone loss.

Stuart Ralston, who led the research project, and is now based at the

University of Edinburgh, said: “ This is an important finding since it

demonstrates that the receptors which cannabis acts upon are not only

important in the nervous system, but also in the control of bone

metabolism.

“ The fact that compounds which blocked cannabinoid receptors are

highly effective at preventing bone loss is particularly exciting,

since it shows that these drugs could provide us with a completely new

approach to the treatment of osteoporosis and other bone diseases. “

Ruth Ross, who is a cannabinoid research scientist at the University of

Aberdeen, added: “ Cannabinoid receptor blockers have recently been

shown to be safe and effective for the treatment of obesity. The fact

that they may also be potent inhibitors of bone loss has major

therapeutic implications. "

Conversely, the researchers also discovered that drugs which stimulate

these receptors - and mimic the effects of cannabis – were detrimental

to bone and caused increased bone loss, which could, in turn lead to

osteoporosis.

However, the most widely used of drug treatments for osteoporosis,

cancer-related bone diseases, rheumatoid arthritis and other bone

diseases are inconvenient to take and can be associated with various

undesirable side effects.

Source: University of Aberdeen, 2005