The cannabinoid receptors system in horses: Tissue distribution and cellular identification in skin.

Summary

# Editorial Summary The endocannabinoid system—comprising cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), their ligands, and metabolising enzymes—regulates neuroimmune function across vertebrate species, yet its role in equine dermatology remains largely unexplored. Kupczyk and colleagues mapped cannabinoid receptor distribution and cellular localisation in equine skin tissue, providing the first detailed characterisation of this system in horses. Their findings establish that CB1 and CB2 receptors are present throughout equine skin in both neural and immune cell populations, with specific spatial distribution patterns mirroring those observed in other veterinary and human species. This evidence suggests the endocannabinoid system may represent a previously unrecognised regulatory mechanism in equine skin homoeostasis and inflammatory response, opening potential therapeutic avenues for dermatological conditions including allergic dermatitis and wounds where receptor expression becomes dysregulated. For practitioners managing equine skin disease, these results provide a foundational rationale for investigating cannabinoid-based interventions alongside conventional treatments, though clinical efficacy studies in horses remain essential before clinical application.

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Key Findings

• •Endocannabinoid system (ECS) composed of CBR1 and CBR2 receptors has been identified in equine tissue
• •Cannabinoid receptors are present in skin tissue of horses and control neuroimmune homeostasis
• •CBR expression and tissue distribution become disordered in pathological skin conditions
• •Cannabinoid receptors represent a potential therapeutic target for equine skin disease management

Conditions Studied

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