NIAAA: Liver fibrosis is a consequence of chronic liver injury associated
with alcoholic or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, viral hepatitis, or
metabolic diseases, and can lead to cirrhosis and even cancer. While
there are no effective treatments for liver fibrosis, previous research
has shown that compounds that block receptors for molecules similar to
those found in the marijuana plant (endocannabinoids) can interfere with
the development of liver fibrosis. However, the development of
therapies based on these cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1R)-blocking
compounds was halted, because they have unwanted neuropsychiatric side
effects of CB1R-blocking agents acting in the brain.
