title: The cannabinergic system as a target for anti-inflammatory therapies.
abstract: Habitual cannabis use has been shown to affect the human immune system, and recent advances in endocannabinoid research provide a basis for understanding these immunomodulatory effects. Cell-based experiments or in vivo animal testing suggest that regulation of the endocannabinoid circuitry can impact almost every major function associated with the immune system. These studies were assisted by the development of numerous novel molecules that exert their biological effects through the endocannabinoid system. Several of these compounds were tested for their effects on immune function, and the results suggest therapeutic opportunities for a variety of inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, allergic asthma, and autoimmune diabetes through modulation of the endocannabinoid system.
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Discovery, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 116 Mugar Hall, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Dai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: V Kiran
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Vemuri
authors.forename: Richard I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Duclos
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Makriyannis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D015394:Molecular Structure; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D008024:Ligands; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid