Neuroprotective cb2 receptor agonists

Abstract

A method of treating or preventing a neuroinflammatory and/or neurodegenerative disease in a subject by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a CB 2 receptor agonist is described. The CB 2 receptor agonist can be a compound according to formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, with R 1 and R 2 as defined herein. Administration of the CB 2 receptor agonist activates CB 2 receptors in the microglia, and can restore syntaptic plasticity, cognition, and memory in subjects having elevated levels of amyloid-β peptide in the brain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating Parkinson's disease in a subject by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a CB 2  receptor agonist to the subject, wherein the CB2 receptor agonist is a compound according to formula II 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         2 . The compound of  claim 1 , wherein the compound is the S enantiomer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the CB2 receptor agonist is administered parenterally. 
     
     
         4 . A method of activating CB2 receptors in CNS microglia of a subject having Parkinson's disease by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a CB2 receptor agonist to the subject, wherein the CB2 receptor agonist is a compound according to formula II 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the subject has elevated levels of amyloid-β peptide in the brain. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein activating the CB2 receptors increases one or more of synaptic plasticity, cognition, or memory of the subject. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein activating the CB2 receptors decreases production of IL-1β by the microglia. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  wherein activating the CB2 receptors increases glutamatergic neurotransmission in the subject.