title: Endogenous and Synthetic Cannabinoids as Therapeutics in Retinal Disease.
abstract: The functional significance of cannabinoids in ocular physiology and disease has been reported some decades ago. In the early 1970s, subjects who smoked Cannabis sativa developed lower intraocular pressure (IOP). This led to the isolation of phytocannabinoids from this plant and the study of their therapeutic effects in glaucoma. The main treatment of this disease to date involves the administration of drugs mediating either the decrease of aqueous humour synthesis or the increase of its outflow and thus reduces IOP. However, the reduction of IOP is not sufficient to prevent visual field loss. Retinal diseases, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, have been defined as neurodegenerative diseases and characterized by ischemia-induced excitotoxicity and loss of retinal neurons. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies must be applied in order to target retinal cell death, reduction of visual acuity, and blindness. The aim of the present review is to address the neuroprotective and therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in retinal disease.
authors.affiliation: University of Crete, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Heraklion, 71003 Crete, Greece; Department of Ophthalmology, Bern University Hospital, Inselspital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kokona
authors.affiliation: University of Crete, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Heraklion, 71003 Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Panagiota-Christina
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.affiliation: University of Crete, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Heraklion, 71003 Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Mihalis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kounenidakis
authors.affiliation: University of Crete, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Heraklion, 71003 Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Foteini
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kiagiadaki
authors.affiliation: University of Crete, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Heraklion, 71003 Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: Kyriaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thermos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000378:metabolism; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid