Endocannabinoids and reactive nitrogen and oxygen species in neuropathologies.
Neuropathologies that affect our population include ischemic stroke and neurodegenerative diseases of immune origin, including multiple sclerosis. The endocannabinoid system in the brain, including agonists anandamide (arachidonyl ethanolamide) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, and the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors, has been implicated in the pathophysiology of these disease states, and can be a target for therapeutic interventions. This review concentrates on cellular signal transduction pathways believed to be involved in the cellular damage.
Howlett
Allyn C
AC
Neuroscience of Drug Abuse Research Program, 208 Julius L. Chambers Biomedical/Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, 700 George Street, Durham, NC 27707, USA. ahowlett@nccu.edu
Mukhopadhyay
Somnath
S
Norford
Derek C
DC
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators / Q000378:metabolism*; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D006801:Humans; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
D063385:Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D026361:Reactive Nitrogen Species; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid