Evaluation of CB1 and CB2 expression in the nervous tissue of dogs naturally infected with distemper virus

• Grant number: 25/01488-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Camila Michele Appolinario
• Grantee: Paulo César Leão Eliam
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The canine distemper virus (CDV), which belongs to the Paramyxoviridae family and the Morbillivirus genus, is a highly contagious pathogen with a wide variety of hosts. CDV infection is associated with the development of systemic symptoms and has a poorer prognosis in cases with neurological involvement. Canine distemper has anatomopathological similarities to human demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, and is widely recognized as a relevant model for studying demyelinating mechanisms in humans. In this context, the endocannabinoid system, which plays an important role in neural homeostasis, has shown relevant alterations in diseases such as multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; however, its relationship with distemper remains unexplored. This study will investigate the expression of CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system of dogs naturally infected with CDV, compared to dogs without distemper. RT-PCR will be used to analyze gene expression and immunohistochemistry will be used to evaluate protein expression. This work aims to understand new mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of CDV and to explore the potential of the endocannabinoid system as a possible target for therapeutic approaches.