Researchers from the University of Messina found that cannabidiol (CBD) reduced inflammation in canine mammary carcinoma cells without harming cell viability, suggesting it may have therapeutic potential for one of the most common cancers affecting female dogs.
The study was conducted by researchers from the Department of Veterinary Science and the Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science at the University of Messina in Messina, Italy.
Canine mammary carcinoma is marked by a chronic inflammatory tumor environment that resembles aspects of human breast cancer. Researchers said the upstream mechanisms driving this inflammatory profile are not fully understood, but the endocannabinoid system has increasingly been studied for its role in both inflammation and tumor biology.
For the study, researchers established primary cell cultures from surgically removed canine mammary carcinoma tissues and compared them with matched normal mammary epithelial cells. They examined the expression of several endocannabinoid system-related receptors, including CB1, CB2, TRPV1, GPR55 and PPAR-α, along with inflammatory markers such as COX-1, COX-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-33, IL-17A, TNF-α and LCN2.
The cancer-derived cells showed significant overexpression of the endocannabinoid-related receptors compared with normal controls. They also produced higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and IL-17A.
Researchers then tested cannabidiol on the cells, first determining that the 24-hour IC50 was 32 µM. They then applied lower, sub-cytotoxic concentrations of 3, 10 and 20 µM for 24 hours.
CBD at 10 to 20 µM significantly reduced the expression of key inflammatory genes, particularly COX-2, IL-6 and TNF-α. It also lowered the release of related cytokines without compromising cell viability.
The study concludes that the endocannabinoid system is upregulated in canine mammary carcinoma and may help drive its inflammatory tumor environment. Researchers said CBD’s ability to reduce this inflammatory profile at non-toxic concentrations supports further research into its potential use in treating canine mammary carcinoma.
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