Anesthesia and analgesia
-
Anesthesia and analgesia · May 2012
Prevention of paclitaxel-induced neuropathy through activation of the central cannabinoid type 2 receptor system.
Peripheral neuropathy is a major dose-limiting toxicity of chemotherapy, especially after multiple courses of paclitaxel. The development of paclitaxel-induced neuropathy is associated with the activation of microglia followed by the activation and proliferation of astrocytes, and the expression and release of proinflammatory cytokines in the spinal dorsal horn. Cannabinoid type 2 (CB(2)) receptors are expressed in the microglia in neurodegenerative disease models. ⋯ Our findings suggest an innovative therapeutic approach to prevent chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and may permit more aggressive use of active chemotherapeutic regimens with reduced long-term sequelae.