Evidence from animal models, postmortem human brain studies, and genetic research converges to suggest CB2 cannabinoid receptors play a significant role in alcohol addiction biology.
Addiction researchers and pharmaceutical scientists developing treatments for alcohol use disorder.
CB2 knockout mice showed increased alcohol use, motivation, and relapse
What the researchers found
CB2 receptor activation or blockade modulated alcohol-related behaviors in rodents. Mice lacking CB2 showed increased alcohol consumption, motivation, and relapse. Postmortem studies found CB2 alterations in brain reward areas of alcoholic patients. Some genetic variations in the CNR2 gene were associated with increased AUD risk.
Why it matters
CB2 receptors are primarily expressed outside the brain, making them a potentially safer drug target than CB1 for treating alcohol addiction without the cognitive side effects.
The numbers in context
CB2 knockout mice showed increased alcohol consumption, motivation, and relapse. Postmortem CNR2 alterations found in brain reward areas. Some CNR2 genetic variants associated with AUD risk.
How the study worked
Literature review searching Medline and Scopus for studies on CB2 receptors and alcohol use, covering pharmacological, genetic, and neurobiological evidence from both animal models and human studies.
What this study cannot tell us
Most evidence from animal models. Limited number of human genetic and postmortem studies. No clinical trials of CB2 ligands for alcohol addiction yet.
How to read the evidence
Converging evidence from multiple research approaches, but limited human clinical data.
When this study was published
Published in 2022.
The bigger picture
Unlike CB1, which is heavily involved in brain function and cognition, CB2 receptors offer a peripheral-predominant target that could modulate addiction circuits with fewer central side effects.
Questions still open
- Would CB2 agonists or antagonists be more effective for treating AUD? Could CB2-targeting medications work for other substance use disorders?
Common questions
How are CB2 receptors involved in alcohol addiction?
Could CB2-targeting drugs treat alcoholism?
Read the original research
Role of Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor in Alcohol Use Disorders: From Animal to Human Studies.
International journal of molecular sciences, 23(11)
Citation
García-Gutiérrez, María Salud; Navarrete, Francisco; Gasparyan, Ani; Navarro, Daniela; Morcuende, Álvaro; Femenía, Teresa; Manzanares, Jorge. (2022). Role of Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor in Alcohol Use Disorders: From Animal to Human Studies.. International journal of molecular sciences, 23(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23115908
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