The Endocannabinoid System: Overview of an Emerging Multi-faceted Therapeutic Target

Publication date: Available online 11 July 2018Source: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty AcidsAuthor(s): Dipanjan Chanda, Dietbert Neumann, Jan F.C. GlatzAbstractThe endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglyerol (2-AG) are endogenous lipid mediators that exert protective roles in pathophysiological conditions, including cardiovascular diseases. In this brief review, we provide a conceptual framework linking endocannabinoid signaling to the control of the cellular and molecular hallmarks, and categorize the key components of endocannabinoid signaling that may serve as targets for novel therapeutics. The emerging picture not only reinforces endocannabinoids as potent regulators of cellular metabolism but also reveals that endocannabinoid signaling is mechanistically more complex and diverse than originally thought.
Source: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids (PLEFA) - Category: Lipidology Source Type: research