Targeting cannabinoid receptor 1 for antagonism in pro-fibrotic alveolar macrophages mitigates pulmonary fibrosis.

Abstract

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a life-threatening disease that requires effective and well-tolerated therapeutic modalities. Previously, the distinct pathogenic roles of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the lungs and their joint therapeutic targeting were highlighted in PF. However, the cell-specific role of CB1R in PF has not been explored. Here, we demonstrate that CB1R in alveolar macrophages (AMs) mediates the release of anandamide into the alveoli, which promotes PF by inducing pro-fibrotic macrophages that are accessible to locally delivered antifibrotic therapy. A multitargeted therapy may improve therapeutic efficacy in PF. Pulmonary delivery of 0.5 mg/kg/d MRI-1867 (zevaquenabant), a peripherally acting hybrid CB1R/iNOS inhibitor, was as effective as systemic delivery of 10 mg/kg/d and also matched the efficacy of nintedanib in mitigating bleomycin-induced PF. A systems pharmacology approach revealed that zevaquenabant and nintedanib treatments reversed pathologic changes in both distinct and shared PF-related pathways, which are conserved in human and mouse. Moreover, zevaquenabant treatment also attenuated fibrosis and pro-fibrotic mediators in human precision-cut lung slices. These findings establish CB1R-expressing AMs as a therapeutic target and support local delivery of dual CB1R/iNOS inhibitor zevaquenabant by inhalation as an effective, well-tolerated, and safe strategy for PF.