Does cannabis hold the key to treating cardiometabolic disease?

摘要

Obesity, particularly visceral adiposity, and its related metabolic and cardiovascular disorders, is a worldwide pandemic. The biological properties of one of the most widespread illicit drugs of abuse, marijuana, have been recruited for obesity management. By uncovering the cellular interactions of the cannabinoid DELTA~9-tetrahydrocannabinol (DELTA~9-THC)-the major active component of marijuana-researchers have identified new molecular pathways for treating cardiometabolic disease. Studies have demonstrated that modulation of the endo-cannabinoid system holds great therapeutic promise for the treatment of obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and atherosclerosis.