Role of cannabinoid receptors in alcoholic hepatic injury: steatosis and fibrogenesis are increased in CB2 receptor-deficient mice and decreased in CB1 receptor knockouts.

Background: Alcohol is a common cause of hepatic liver injury with steatosis and fibrosis. Cannabinoid receptors (CB) modulate steatosis, inflammation and fibrogenesis. To investigate the differences between CB(1) and CB(2) in the hepatic response to chronic alcohol intake, we examined CB knockout mice (CB(1)(-/-), CB(2)(-/-)).