Endocannabinoid control of food intake and energy balance.
Marijuana and its major psychotropic component, Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol, stimulate appetite and increase body weight in wasting syndromes, suggesting that the CB(1) cannabinoid receptor and its endogenous ligands, the endocannabinoids, are involved in controlling energy balance. The endocannabinoid system controls food intake via both central and peripheral mechanisms, and it may also stimulate lipogenesis and fat accumulation. Here we discuss the multifaceted regulation of energy homeostasis by endocannabinoids, together with its applications to the treatment of eating disorders and metabolic syndromes.
Di Marzo
Vincenzo
V
Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy. vdimarzo@icmib.na.cnr.it
Matias
Isabel
I
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001069:Appetite Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D000077285:Rimonabant
D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D010880:Piperidines; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D000077285:Rimonabant