Comparative biology of the endocannabinoid system possible role in the immune response.
In this review we discuss data showing that the endogenous cannabinoid system, represented by cannabinoid receptors, endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligands and enzymes for the biosynthesis and degradation of these ligands, is conserved throughout evolution from coelenterates to man. This signaling system has been suggested to play several roles in animals, including the regulation of cell development and growth, nervous functions, reproduction and feeding behavior. In this article, however, we shall describe with more detail the possible function of the endogenous cannabinoid system in the modulation of immune response in organisms from the lower to the higher levels of animal evolution.
Salzet
M
M
Laboratoire d'Endocrinologie des Annélides, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.
Breton
C
C
Bisogno
T
T
Di Marzo
V
V
D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000502:physiology; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000276:immunology; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000502:physiology*; D007448:Invertebrates; D008024:Ligands; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014714:Vertebrates
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D008024:Ligands; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; C078814:anandamide