title: Type-2 cannabinoid receptors in neurodegeneration.
abstract: Based on its wide expression in immune cells, type-2 cannabinoid (CB2) receptors were traditionally thought to act as "peripheral receptors" with an almost exclusively immunomodulatory function. However, their recent identification in mammalian brain areas, as well as in distinct neuronal cells, has opened the way to a re-consideration of CB2 signaling in the context of brain pathophysiology, synaptic plasticity and neuroprotection. To date, accumulated evidence from several independent preclinical studies has offered new perspectives on the possible involvement of CB2 signaling in brain and spinal cord traumatic injury, as well as in the most relevant neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's chorea. Here, we will review available information on CB2 in these disease conditions, along with data that support also its therapeutic potential to treat them.
authors.affiliation: Endocannabinoid Research Group, Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research Council, 80078 Pozzuoli, Italy; Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bisogno
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Via Balzarini 1, 64100 Teramo, Italy; European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oddi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piccoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fazio
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128 Rome, Italy; European Center for Brain Research/IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy. Electronic address: m.maccarrone@unicampus.it.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maccarrone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2
keywords: AM630 (PubChem CID: 4302963); Endocannabinoid system; HU-308 (PubChem CID: 101014676); JWH-015 (PubChem CID: 4273754); JWH-133 (PubChem CID: 6918505); Neurodegeneration; PF3845 (PubChem CID: 25154867); SR144528 (PubChem CID: 3081355); Type-2 cannabinoid receptors; WIN 55,212-2 (PubChem CID: 6604176)