title: The cannabinoid receptor 1 and its role in influencing peripheral metabolism.
abstract: Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies has demonstrated the deleterious pathological effects of a dysregulated endocannabinoid system. Increased stimulation of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1 ) and subsequent downstream cellular signalling are both causative in the deleterious pathological effects observed in a number of diseases. When the CB1 cell signalling cascade is blocked, this results in whole body weight-loss, leading to a reduction in obesity and associated co-morbidities. In the central nervous system; however, CB1 antagonism results in adverse psychological side effects. Blockade of CB1 via peripheral acting compounds that do not cross the blood-brain barrier have been determined to have beneficial effects in metabolic tissues such as the liver and skeletal muscle. These results support the notion that peripheral blockade of CB1 using pharmacological antagonists is a viable target for the treatment of the current epidemic of obesity and its associated co-morbidities.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical and Lifestyle Disease Unit, College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Keefe
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Simcocks
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Hryciw
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mathai
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: McAinch
mesh_terms: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D019440:Anti-Obesity Agents; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1
keywords: cannabinoids; energy regulation; obesity therapy; weight loss therapy