The endocannabinoid system in chronic liver disease.
Despite the public concern about the controversial use and abuse of marijuana, the scientific community has focused on the therapeutic potentials of cannabinoid compounds and had highlighted the importance of endocannabinoids and their receptors in physiology and disease. Endocannabinoids have been shown to be important mediators in neuroendocrine and psychiatric processes such as food intake, drug reward and energy metabolism. Cannabinoid receptors are expressed by several cell lines in the liver, such as hepatocytes, myofibroblastic cells, endothelial cells and probably cholangiocytes. A perpetuating role in liver damage for the endocannabinoid system has been proposed in several steps of chronic liver disease progression. Being a major cause of death worldwide, chronic liver disease is an important problem. New therapies are needed in order to stop or slow damage progression. This review summarizes the results of experimental studies involving the endocannabinoid system in liver disease and their clinical and therapeutical implications in hepatology.
Zamora-Valdés
Daniel
D
Department of Biomedical Research and Liver Unit, Medica Sur Clinic & Foundation, and Faculty of Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.
Ponciano-Rodríguez
Guadalupe
G
Chávez-Tapia
Norberto C
NC
Méndez-Sánchez
Nahum
N
D000818:Animals; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000502:physiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000502:physiology*
D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid