Research article summary (published 29 Sep 2002):

Acute neuronal injury, excitotoxicity, and the endocannabinoid system.

Full Abstract

The endocannabinoid system is a valuable target for drug discovery, because it is involved in the regulation of many cellular and physiological functions. The endocannabinoid system constitutes the endogenous lipids anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol and noladin ether, and the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors as well as the proteins for their inactivation. It is thought that (endo)cannabinoid-based drugs may potentially be useful to reduce the effects of neurodegeneration. This paper reviews recent developments in the endocannabinoid system and its involvement in neuroprotection. Exogenous (endo)cannabinoids have been shown to exert neuroprotection in a variety of in vitro and in vivo models of neuronal injury via different mechanisms, such as prevention of excitotoxicity by CB1-mediated inhibition of glutamatergic transmission, reduction of calcium influx, and subsequent inhibition of deleterious cascades, TNF-alpha formation, and anti-oxidant activity. It has been suggested that the release of endogenous endocannabinoids during neuronal injury might be a protective response. However, several observations indicate that the role of the endocannabinoid system as a general endogenous protection system is questionable. The data are critically reviewed and possible explanations are given.

Author information

Author/s: van der Stelt, Mario (M); Veldhuis, Wouter B (WB); Maccarrone, Mauro (M); Bär, Peter R (PR); Nicolay, Klaas (K); Veldink, Gerrit A (GA); Di Marzo, Vincenzo (V); Vliegenthart, Johannes F G (JF);

Affiliation: Department of Bio-Organic Chemistry, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Molecular neurobiology (Mol Neurobiol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: -2002 Oct-Dec; vol 26 (issue 2-3) : pp 317-46

Dates: Created 2002/11/13; Completed 2002/12/24; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12428763, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acute Disease Animals Arachidonic Acids - pharmacology; physiology Endocannabinoids Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists - metabolism; pharmacology Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - pharmacology; physiology; therapeutic use

Fatty Acids, Unsaturated - pharmacology; physiology; therapeutic use Glycerides - pharmacology; physiology Humans Neurons - drug effects; pathology Neurotoxins - metabolism; pharmacology Polyunsaturated Alkamides

Associated Chemicals: Arachidonic Acids (0) ; Endocannabinoids (0) ; Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists (0) ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated (0) ; Glycerides (0) ; Neurotoxins (0) ; Polyunsaturated Alkamides (0) ; noladin ether (0) ; 2-arachidonylglycerol (53847-30-6) ; anandamide (94421-68-8)

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