title: Endocannabinoid signaling in Alzheimers disease: current knowledge and future directions.
abstract: The importance of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in the modulation functions of the central nervous system has been extensively investigated during the last few years. In particular, accumulated evidence has implicated ECS in the pathophysiology of Alzheimers disease (AD), that is a progressive, degenerative, and irreversible disorder characterized by the accumulation in the brain of beta-amyloid fragments forming insoluble plaques, and of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NTFs) associated with synaptic and neuronal loss. In all the processes involved in the formation of both plaques and NFTs, the key-role played by the ECS has been documented. Here, we review current knowledge and future directions of ECS modulation both in animal models of AD and in human tissues, underlying the role of endocannabinoid signaling in the development of AD hallmarks. Overall, the available data suggest that next generation therapeutics might target distinct ECS elements, for instance CB2 receptor or fatty acid amide hydrolase, as a promising approach to halt or at least to slow down disease progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D' Addario
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Francesco
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trabace
authors.affiliation: Center of Integrated Research, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finazzi Agro'
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Vittorio Erspamer, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cuomo
authors.affiliation: Center of Integrated Research, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maccarrone