Peer Review of a Novel Control of Human Keratin Expression: Cannabinoid Receptor 1-Mediated Signaling Down-Regulates the Expression of Keratins K6 and K16 in Human Keratinocytes In Vitro and In Situ
February 2013
TLDR Activating CB1 can reduce keratin levels, potentially helping manage psoriasis and aid wound healing.
The study explored the role of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) in regulating keratin expression in human keratinocytes, focusing on keratins K6 and K16, which are upregulated in psoriasis. Activation of CB1 with the agonist arachidonoyl-chloro-ethanolamide (ACEA) was found to decrease the expression of K6 and K16 in both organ-cultured human skin and cultured HaCaT keratinocytes, which are similar to psoriatic keratinocytes. This effect was partially reversed by the CB1 antagonist AM251. The study suggested that CB1-mediated signaling could potentially be used in psoriasis management due to its ability to inhibit keratinocyte proliferation and inflammation. Additionally, the findings indicated that CB1 regulation of keratin 6/16 might be relevant to epithelial wound healing, given the role of K6 in this process in mice.
