Therapeutic Potential of Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 in Post-Extraction Alveolar Repair of Osteoporotic Mice

• Grant number: 25/27821-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2026
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Joni Augusto Cirelli
• Grantee: Enzo Bacelar Giacomin
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia (FOAr). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Osteoporosis is a systemic disease characterized by an imbalance between bone formation and resorption, resulting in deterioration of bone microarchitecture and significant damage to tissue regeneration. In the context of dentistry, this condition hinders alveolar repair, increasing bone resorption and compromising the stability of dental implants. The endocannabinoid system has been described as a modulator of bone homeostasis, with the type 2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2) playing a crucial role in regulating inflammation, osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis, making it a promising therapeutic target for conditions associated with poor bone remodeling. Thus, the aim of this study will be to evaluate the effects of the endocannabinoid system, through selective activation of the CB2 receptor, on the alveolar repair process in osteoporotic mice submitted to exodontia. Thirty female mice will be divided into three experimental groups: control (exodontia without osteoporosis), osteoporotic (exodontia after ovariectomy), and osteoporotic treated with CB2 agonist. It is hoped that selective activation of CB2 will result in more efficient bone repair, with greater bone matrix deposition and less alveolar resorption, modulating the inflammatory response and favoring bone homeostasis. The findings of this study could contribute to the development of new therapeutic approaches aimed at alveolar bone regeneration (AU)