title: Cannabinoids and Neuro-Inflammation: Regulation of Brain Immune Response.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cannabinoid receptors are involved in the neuro-pathogenic mechanisms of inflammatory conditions of the central nervous system and their expression can be modulated during diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this manuscript we highlight the function of cannabinoid receptors, their signalling and expression at peripheral and central levels in order to understand their implication in neuro-inflammation and review the effects of cannabinoids in neuro-inflammatory disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Brain inflammatory processes are characterized by infiltration of numerous types of cells: both peripheral and brain resident immune cells and other neuronal cells. The disruption of the blood brain barrier favours cell infiltration in the central nervous system with consequent neuronal damage, a common event in many neuro-inflammatory diseases. Cannabinoids affect brain adaptive and immune response, regulate inflammatory mediators and can exert a role in blood brain barrier damage prevention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Various patents describe the beneficial properties of cannabinoids in numerous neurodegenerative diseases with inflammatory components and overall effects support the therapeutic application of cannabinoids.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ranieri
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laezza
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bifulco
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marasco
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Salerno, Via Salvatore Allende, Baronissi, 84081 Salerno, Italy and Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno, Via Giovanni Paolo II 84084 Fisciano (Salerno)- Italy. annamaria.malfitano@unina.it.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Malfitano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002186:Cannabinoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002186:Cannabinoids; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid