Study of the neuroprotective potential of cannabidiol after traumatic brain injury in male and female mice

• Grant number: 24/20699-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: February 29, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - General Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Guilherme de Siqueira Branco
• Grantee: Isis Paiva Trajano
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Ribeirão Preto (FORP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Inflammation is a physiological process crucial for tissue protection and repair but can lead to complications when dysregulated. In the central nervous system (CNS), inflammation plays a significant role in traumatic brain injury (TBI), where primary brain damage is followed by prolonged neuroinflammation, contributing to severe behavioral, neuropsychiatric, neurodegenerative, and cognitive issues. Post-TBI neuroinflammation involves immune cell activation, inflammatory mediator release, and increased blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, facilitating chronic inflammation and adverse behavioral symptoms. Biological sex influences inflammatory responses and outcomes, with immune activation and symptom severity differing between sexes.The endocannabinoid system (ECS), including cannabidiol (CBD), has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective potential in preclinical studies. This project will assess CBD's anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects post-TBI, examining response differences dependent on CBD concentration and activation of CB1 and CB2 receptors, which vary significantly between sexes. Discovering sex-specific response patterns could lead to refined therapeutic strategies, improving prognosis expectations for TBI patients.