TY - JOUR
T1 - The endocannabinoid system as a target for therapeutic drugs
AU - Piomelli, Daniele
AU - Giuffrida, Andrea
AU - Calignano, Antonio
AU - Rodríguez De Fonseca, Fernando
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank T. Dinh, H. Kim, F. Désarnaud, P. Loubet-Lescoulié, F. Nava and S. Sensi for reading the manuscript critically, G. Kunos, K. Müller-Vahl and M. J. Walker for sharing data before publication, F. Petitet for discussion, and the National Institute of Drug Abuse, National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD), Del Amo Program, Plan Nacional Sobre Drogas and Comunidad de Madrid for financial support.
PY - 2000/6/1
Y1 - 2000/6/1
N2 - Cannabinoid receptors, the molecular targets of the cannabis constituent Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, are present throughout the body and are normally bound by a family of endogenous lipids - the endocannabinoids. Release of endocannabinoids is stimulated in a receptor-dependent manner by neurotransmitters and requires the enzymatic cleavage of phospholipid precursors present in the membranes of neurons and other cells. Once released, the endocannabinoids activate cannabinoid receptors on nearby cells and are rapidly inactivated by transport and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis. These compounds might act near their site of synthesis to serve a variety of regulatory functions, some of which are now beginning to be understood. Recent advances in the biochemistry and pharmacology of the endocannabinoid system in relation to the opportunities that this system offers for the development of novel therapeutic agents will be discussed. Copyright (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.
AB - Cannabinoid receptors, the molecular targets of the cannabis constituent Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, are present throughout the body and are normally bound by a family of endogenous lipids - the endocannabinoids. Release of endocannabinoids is stimulated in a receptor-dependent manner by neurotransmitters and requires the enzymatic cleavage of phospholipid precursors present in the membranes of neurons and other cells. Once released, the endocannabinoids activate cannabinoid receptors on nearby cells and are rapidly inactivated by transport and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis. These compounds might act near their site of synthesis to serve a variety of regulatory functions, some of which are now beginning to be understood. Recent advances in the biochemistry and pharmacology of the endocannabinoid system in relation to the opportunities that this system offers for the development of novel therapeutic agents will be discussed. Copyright (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0165-6147(00)01482-6
DO - 10.1016/S0165-6147(00)01482-6
M3 - Review article
C2 - 10838609
AN - SCOPUS:0034212295
SN - 0165-6147
VL - 21
SP - 218
EP - 224
JO - Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
JF - Trends in Pharmacological Sciences
IS - 6
ER -