title: Role of the endogenous cannabinoid system in nicotine addiction: novel insights.
abstract: Several lines of evidence have shown that the endogenous cannabinoids are implicated in several neuropsychiatric diseases. Notably, preclinical and human clinical studies have shown a pivotal role of the cannabinoid system in nicotine addiction. The CB1 receptor inverse agonist/antagonist rimonabant (also known as SR141716) was effective to decrease nicotine-taking and nicotine-seeking in rodents, as well as the elevation of dopamine induced by nicotine in brain reward area. Rimonabant has been shown to improve the ability of smokers to quit smoking in randomized clinical trials. However, rimonabant was removed from the market due to increased risk of psychiatric side-effects observed in humans. Recently, other components of the endogenous cannabinoid system have been explored. Here, we present the recent advances on the understanding of the role of the different components of the cannabinoid system on nicotine's effects. Those recent findings suggest possible alternative ways of modulating the cannabinoid system that could have implication for nicotine dependence treatment.
authors: Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto, ON , Canada ; Directorate of Poison Control and Forensic Chemistry, Ministry of Health , Riyadh , Saudi Arabia.
authors: Islam Hany
authors: IH
authors: Gamaleddin
authors: Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto, ON , Canada.
authors: Jose M
authors: JM
authors: Trigo
authors: Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto, ON , Canada.
authors: Aliou B
authors: AB
authors: Gueye
authors: Center for Drug Discovery, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University , Boston, MA , USA.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Zvonok
authors: Center for Drug Discovery, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University , Boston, MA , USA.
authors: Alexandros
authors: A
authors: Makriyannis
authors: Preclinical Pharmacology Section, Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services , Baltimore, MD , USA.
authors: Steven R
authors: SR
authors: Goldberg
authors: Translational Addiction Research Laboratory, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto, ON , Canada ; Alcohol Research and Treatment Clinic, Addiction Medicine Services, Ambulatory Care and Structured Treatments, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto, ON , Canada ; Department of Family and Community Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto , Toronto, ON , Canada ; Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto , Toronto, ON , Canada ; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto , Toronto, ON , Canada.
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: Le Foll
keywords: addiction; cannabinoid system; endogenous cannabinoids; nicotine