title: Endocannabinoid signaling and food addiction.
abstract: Overeating, frequently linked to an increasing incidence of overweight and obesity, has become epidemic and one of the leading global health problems. To explain the development of this eating behavior, new hypotheses involve the concept that many people might be addicted to food by losing control over their ability to regulate food intake. Among the different neurotransmitter networks that partake in the reward circuitry within the brain, a large body of evidence supports the involvement of the endocannabinoid system. Indeed, its dysfunctions might contribute to food addiction, by regulating appetite and food preference through central and peripheral mechanisms. Here, we review and discuss the role of endocannabinoid signaling in the reward circuitry, and the possible therapeutic exploitation of strategies based on its fine regulation.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Piazza A Moro 45, 64100 Teramo, Italy; Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: cdaddario@unite.it.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Addario
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, MC, Italy.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Micioni Di Bonaventura
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Piazza A Moro 45, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology "Vittorio Erspamer", Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gaetani
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, MC, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ciccocioppo
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri 9, 62032 Camerino, MC, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cifani
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Center of Integrated Research, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; European Center for Brain Research (CERC)/Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: m.maccarrone@unicampus.it.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maccarrone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016739:Behavior, Addictive / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D012201:Reward; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D063388:Endocannabinoids
keywords: Endocannabinoid signaling; Food addiction; Food intake regulation and energy balance; Food reward mechanisms