CBD and PPARγ
Gene switch · in the cell nucleus.
Gene switch · in the cell nucleus. Where this target is found in the body, lab findings on CBD, the strength of evidence and the molecular structure, with sources.
CBD's other targetsStructure: PDB 2PRGLast updated:
What's on this page?
Interactive 3D · real anatomy and real data
Where in your body are the cannabinoid receptors?
About 1.4 MB to download.
Regions
How to read it Choose a region, or tap a glowing point on the map.
- Solid light is the CB1 receptor, a ring is CB2. Each region has its own color; the color only tells regions apart.
- The strength of the light is the receptor gene level measured in human tissue (Human Protein Atlas). That is why the liver’s point is dim: a healthy liver has few receptors.
- With the layer selector above you can also see other receptors, the enzymes that make and break down endocannabinoids, and the liver enzymes that break down CBD and THC.
- Every piece of information shows its source and the type of evidence (human, animal, cell). You can change the reading level above.
- Drag to rotate. Use the + and − buttons to zoom; on a computer, Ctrl or ⌘ with the scroll wheel, on a phone, two fingers.
Where is it, and what does it do?
PPARγ is different from the others: it sits inside the cell, not in the cell membrane, and binds to DNA to change which genes are read. It plays a role in fat cell maturation and blood sugar balance; it is the target of a class of drugs used for diabetes. In human tissues, it was found mostly in fat tissue and the colon, and it was almost absent from skeletal muscle. Auboeuf 1997Human tissueNolte 1998Molecular structure (lab)
Findings on CBD
In the lab, CBD bound to this receptor and increased its gene-switching activity; it turned mouse precursor cells into fat cells. It caused the same change in human and mouse stem cells, and a substance that blocks PPARγ greatly reduced this effect. In rat blood vessels, part of CBD's relaxing effect appeared to depend on PPARγ, but according to the authors most of it came from blocking calcium channels. O'Sullivan 2009AnimalCell / labChang 2022Cell / lab
Student level: experiments and numbers
O'Sullivan 2009: in a reporter gene assay, CBD increased the transcriptional activity of PPARγ; in a competitive binding assay, it bound to PPARγ; and it differentiated 3T3-L1 fibroblasts into adipocytes; in rat aorta, the relaxation developing over 2 hours was reduced by GW9662 (1 µM). Chang 2022: in transient transfection, CBD activated mouse and human PPARγ but not its partner RXR; it increased adipogenic differentiation in human and mouse mesenchymal stromal stem cells, and T0070907 significantly reduced this. O'Sullivan 2009AnimalCell / labChang 2022Cell / lab
Expert level: method notes
Method note
O'Sullivan 2009: endothelial denudation, NOS inhibition, pertussis toxin, CB1/CB2 antagonism and capsaicin pretreatment did not affect the relaxation; relaxation was reduced in Ca²⁺-free buffer, and CBD (1–30 µM) blocked contraction when Ca²⁺ was reintroduced. No Ki/IC50 for binding in the abstract. Chang 2022: no CBD concentration or EC50 in the abstract. Auboeuf 1997: quantitative RT-competitive PCR, PPARγ1 predominant in fat tissue and colon. O'Sullivan 2009AnimalCell / labChang 2022Cell / labAuboeuf 1997Human tissue
Structure: The ligand-binding domain of human PPARγ with the diabetes drug rosiglitazone, X-ray 2.3 Å. The full PPARγ–RXRα complex on DNA is in 3DZY (3.1 Å). No CBD-bound structure exists. Nolte 1998Molecular structure (lab)PDB 2PRGMolecular structure (lab)Chandra 2008Molecular structure (lab) RCSB PDB 2PRG
How lab concentrations compare with the level measured in blood, and CBD's other targets: CBD's other targets.
Identifiers and citation
- Protein
- Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (gene PPARG, human; UniProt P37231)
- Structure
- RCSB PDB 2PRG: The ligand-binding domain of human PPARγ with the diabetes drug rosiglitazone, X-ray 2.3 Å. The full PPARγ–RXRα complex on DNA is in 3DZY (3.1 Å). No CBD-bound structure exists.
How to cite: cbd.school editorial team. CBD and PPARγ. Endocannabinoid system 3D map, cbd.school. Last updated October 24, 2026. https://cbd.school/learn/endocannabinoid-system-map/hedefler/ppargamma/
Protein structure from RCSB PDB (CC0 1.0). The map, text and downloaded images are CC BY-SA 4.0. An independent expert review has not been done yet. All licenses
Other pages of the map
Overview: what the endocannabinoid system is, the feedback brake at the synapse, CBD's targets, lesson mode, data and licenses.
Sources
Show 6 references
- Auboeuf D, Rieusset J, Fajas L et al. Tissue distribution and quantification of the expression of mRNAs of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors and liver X receptor-alpha in humans: no alteration in adipose tissue of obese and NIDDM patients. Diabetes. 1997;46(8):1319-27. PMID 9231657 · doi:10.2337/diab.46.8.1319 Human tissue
- Nolte RT, Wisely GB, Westin S et al. Ligand binding and co-activator assembly of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma. Nature. 1998;395(6698):137-43. PMID 9744270 · doi:10.1038/25931 Molecular structure (lab)
- O'Sullivan SE, Sun Y, Bennett AJ, Randall MD, Kendall DA. Time-dependent vascular actions of cannabidiol in the rat aorta. Eur J Pharmacol. 2009;612(1-3):61-8. PMID 19285060 · doi:10.1016/j.ejphar.2009.03.010 AnimalCell / lab
- Chang RC, Thangavelu CS, Joloya EM et al. Cannabidiol promotes adipogenesis of human and mouse mesenchymal stem cells via PPARγ by inducing lipogenesis but not lipolysis. Biochem Pharmacol. 2022;197:114910. PMID 35026188 · doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2022.114910 Cell / lab
- RCSB Protein Data Bank, entry 2PRG: Ligand-binding domain of the human peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (X-ray crystallography, 2.3 Å; bound BRL = rosiglitazone). doi:10.2210/pdb2PRG/pdb. PDB data CC0 1.0. · doi:10.2210/pdb2PRG/pdb Molecular structure (lab)
- Chandra V, Huang P, Hamuro Y et al. Structure of the intact PPAR-gamma-RXR-alpha nuclear receptor complex on DNA. Nature. 2008;456(7220):350-6. PMID 19043829 · doi:10.1038/nature07413 Molecular structure (lab)