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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2009 Oct 5.
Published in final edited form as: Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2009 Jul 14;30(8):411–420. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2009.05.004

Table 2.

Possible ECS-targeted approaches in skin diseases

Disease Target cell population Target receptor Possible approach Expected effects
Skin tumors Transformed skin cell CB1 and CB2 CB agonists or agents that
increase ECS tone		 Suppression of growth, angiogenesis and
metastasis; induction of apoptosis
Psoriasis Keratinocyte, immune cell CB1 and CB2 CB agonists or agents that
increase ECS tone		 Suppression of keratinocyte proliferation
and inflammation
Unwanted hair growth
(e.g. hirsutism)		 Hair follicle epithelium CB1 CB1 agonists or agents that
increase ECS tone		 Suppression of hair growth, induction
of intrafollicular apoptosis and
catagen regression
Alopecia areata,
effluvium		 Hair follicle epithelium CB1 CB1 antagonists or agents
that decrease ECS tone		 Stimulation of hair shaft elongation;
suppression of intrafollicular apoptosis
and catagen regression; induction of
anagen
Acne, seborrhea Sebaceous gland epithelium CB2 CB2 antagonists or agents
that decrease ECS tone		 Inhibition of sebum/lipid production
in the sebaceous gland
Dry skin Sebaceous gland epithelium CB2 CB2 agonists or agents that
increase ECS tone		 Stimulation of sebum/lipid production
in the sebaceous gland
Dermatitis Infiltrating immune cell,
keratinocyte, sebocyte		 CB1 and CB2 CB agonists or agents that
increase ECS tone		 Suppression of immune/inflammatory
processes
Systemic sclerosis
(scleroderma)		 Infiltrating immune cells,
fibroblasts		 CB2 CB2 agonists or agents that
increase ECS tone		 Suppression of immune/inflammatory
processes and fibrosis
Pain Sensory neuron, keratinocyte,
other skin cells		 CB1 and CB2 CB agonists or agents that
increase ECS tone		 Suppression of release a algogenic
substances; inhibition of transmission
of signals in the nervous system
Itch Sensory neurons, keratinocyte,
sebocyte, other skin cells		 CB1 and CB2 CB agonists or agents that
increase ECS tone		 Suppression of release a pruritogenic
substances; inhibition of transmission
of signals in the nervous system

CB1/2, type-1 and -2 cannabinoid receptor; ECS, endocannabinoid system.