title: The endocannabinoid system: a drug discovery perspective.
abstract: The endocannabinoids are lipid messengers that engage the same cell surface receptors targeted by delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the active component of marijuana. They are produced by cells in the brain and other tissues and combine with two subtypes of G protein-coupled cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. Their ability to modulate a variety of pathophysiological processes, including appetite, pain and mood, provides unique opportunities for drug discovery. Three such opportunities are discussed here: reduction of body weight through blockade of CB1 receptors, alleviation of pain through activation of extracerebral cannabinoid receptors, and modulation of pain and anxiety through inhibition of endocannabinoid degradation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4625, USA. piomelli@uci.edu
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Piomelli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D063387:Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015195:Drug Design; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D006801:Humans; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D063387:Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid