title: Endocannabinoids and related fatty acid derivatives in pain modulation.
abstract: The brain produces at least five compounds that possess sub-micromolar affinity for cannabinoid receptors: anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, noladin ether, virodhamine, and N-arachidonoyldopamine (NADA). One function of these and/or related compounds is to suppress pain sensitivity. Much evidence supports a role of endocannabinoids in pain modulation in general, and some evidence points to the role of particular endocannabinoids. Related endogenous fatty acid derivatives such as oleamide, palmitoylethanolamide, 2-lineoylglycerol, 2-palmitoylglycerol, and a family of arachidonoyl amino acids may interact with endocannabinoids in the modulation of pain sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Brown University, 89 Waterman Street, PO Box 1853, Providence, RI 02912, USA. j_walker@brown.edu
authors.forename: J Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Jocelyn F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Krey
authors.forename: Constance J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism; D010146:Pain / Q000378:metabolism*; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug