Researchers at the University of Florida have unlocked new insights into how the immune system controls infection, revealing an unexpected role for the body’s endocannabinoid system.
The body relies on signaling receptors to coordinate immune responses and two of these receptors, CB1R and CB2R, both linked to the endocannabinoid system, appear to be important for defending against bacterial infections such as Salmonella, a significant global health concern.
These receptors are located across the body, including the brain, the immune system and the gastrointestinal tract, where they help regulate inflammation, infection responses, mood and other functions. Although these receptors are part of the same biological pathway influenced by cannabinoids, no cannabinoids were used in this study.
In the work recently published in mBio, the journal for the American Society for Microbiology, UF researchers studied mice lacking either CB1R or CB2R and examined how they responded to bacterial infections. Mice missing these receptors showed heightened inflammation and disruption of their protective gut microbiome compared to mice with normal receptor function.
The endocannabinoid system is typically studied in terms of its effect on the nervous system, so to see such pronounced effects in the immune defense was unexpected, said Mariola Ferraro, UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) associate professor in the Department of Microbiology and Cell Science.
“These receptors appear to coordinate how the immune system responds during infection,” Ferraro said. “They appear to help determine when to activate inflammation and when to dial it back.”
The study showed that CB1R primarily helps prevent excessive inflammation and supports survival during systemic infection, while CB2R is essential for maintaining a healthy gut microbiome and mucosal immune balance. Mice lacking CB1R had uncontrolled inflammation and severe illness, whereas those missing CB2R lost beneficial bacteria and suffered worse outcomes in intestinal infection models.
While more research is needed before treatments can be developed that target these pathways, the fundings point to a promising new direction for managing infectious and inflammatory diseases.
“We’re not developing therapies yet,” Ferraro said. “But understanding how these natural pathways balance inflammation and gut protection could eventually lead to new strategies for supporting patients during serious infections.”
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The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents.
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