title: Endocannabinoids and endocannabinoid-related mediators: Targets, metabolism and role in neurological disorders.
abstract: The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is composed of two G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors, and the two main endogenous lipid ligands of such receptors (also known as the "endocannabinoids"), anandamide and 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol. The ECS is a pleiotropic signalling system involved in all aspects of mammalian physiology and pathology, and for this reason it represents a potential target for the design and development of new therapeutic drugs. However, the endocannabinoids as well as some of their congeners also interact with a much wider range of receptors, including members of the Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels, Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs), and other GPCRs. Indeed, following the discovery of the endocannabinoids, endocannabinoid-related lipid mediators, which often share the same metabolic pathways of the endocannabinoids, have also been identified or rediscovered. In this review article, we discuss the role of endocannabinoids and related lipids during physiological functions, as well as their involvement in some of the most common neurological disorders.
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare (ICB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pozzuoli, NA, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio Arturo
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Iannotti
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare (ICB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pozzuoli, NA, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Di Marzo
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare (ICB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Pozzuoli, NA, Italy; Epitech Group S.p.A., Saccolongo, PD, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Petrosino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005989:Glycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000378:metabolism; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000378:metabolism; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D005989:Glycerides; D047492:Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels; C094503:glyceryl 2-arachidonate; C078814:anandamide
keywords: 2-Arachidonoyl-glycerol; Anandamide; Inflammation; N-acyl-ethanolamines; Neurodegeneration; Palmitoylethanolamide