Abstract
In the last few years the role and significance of the glia in CNS function and pathology have been drastically reassessed. Glial cells physiology appears very different in healthy versus pathological brain and the recent identification of cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands in glia has triggered a number of studies exploring the role of (endo)cannabinoid system in glia functionality and disease. (Endo)cannabinoids exert their effects in these cells directly affecting some important peculiar functions of the glia and actively promoting biochemical signals ending in a prosurvival fate for these cells. By contrast, (endo)cannabinoids induce a selective death in glia-derived tumor cells. Of special physiological and therapeutic relevance is the reported ability of glial cells during neuropathological conditions to release an increased amount of endocannabinoids and to overexpress cannabinoid receptors. This evidence has suggested that the endocannabinoids production by glial cells may constitute an endogenous defense mechanism preventing the propagation of neuroinflammation and cell damage. The present paper will review the evidence supporting the regulatory role of (endo)cannabinoids in glia function, holding in consideration their therapeutic potential as neuroprotective and/or anticancer agents.
Keywords: Glia, microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, neuroprotection, cell survival, glioma
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Expression and Function of the Endocannabinoid System in Glial Cells
Volume: 14 Issue: 23
Author(s): Paola Massi, Marta Valenti, Daniele Bolognini and Daniela Parolaro
Affiliation:
Keywords: Glia, microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, neuroprotection, cell survival, glioma
Abstract: In the last few years the role and significance of the glia in CNS function and pathology have been drastically reassessed. Glial cells physiology appears very different in healthy versus pathological brain and the recent identification of cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands in glia has triggered a number of studies exploring the role of (endo)cannabinoid system in glia functionality and disease. (Endo)cannabinoids exert their effects in these cells directly affecting some important peculiar functions of the glia and actively promoting biochemical signals ending in a prosurvival fate for these cells. By contrast, (endo)cannabinoids induce a selective death in glia-derived tumor cells. Of special physiological and therapeutic relevance is the reported ability of glial cells during neuropathological conditions to release an increased amount of endocannabinoids and to overexpress cannabinoid receptors. This evidence has suggested that the endocannabinoids production by glial cells may constitute an endogenous defense mechanism preventing the propagation of neuroinflammation and cell damage. The present paper will review the evidence supporting the regulatory role of (endo)cannabinoids in glia function, holding in consideration their therapeutic potential as neuroprotective and/or anticancer agents.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Massi Paola, Valenti Marta, Bolognini Daniele and Parolaro Daniela, Expression and Function of the Endocannabinoid System in Glial Cells, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2008; 14 (23) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208785740135
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161208785740135 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Marine Actinomycetes-derived Natural Products
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Molecular Targets of Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Cancer Therapy
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Inhibitors of the Microsomal Prostaglandin E2 Synthase-1 as Alternative to Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) – A Critical Review
Current Medicinal Chemistry Radioprotective Effects of Plants from the Lamiaceae Family
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor: A New Paradigm for Targeting Various Diseases
Current Angiogenesis (Discontinued) Some Thiazole Derivatives Combined with Different Heterocycles: Cytotoxicity Evaluation and Apoptosis Inducing Studies
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Disease-Responsive Drug Delivery: The Next Generation of Smart Delivery Devices
Current Drug Metabolism Tumor Targeting with RGD Peptide Ligands-Design of New Molecular Conjugates for Imaging and Therapy of Cancers
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Histone and Non-Histone Targets of Dietary Deacetylase Inhibitors
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry The Biological Role of mTOR in the Pathogenesis of Solid Tumors: An Overview
Current Enzyme Inhibition Signaling Intermediates (PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR and RAF/MEK/ERK Pathways) as Therapeutic Targets for Anti-Cancer and Anti-Angiogenesis Treatments
Current Signal Transduction Therapy Nanostructures for Drug Delivery to the Brain
Current Medicinal Chemistry Influence of Polymer Molecular Weight on in-vitro Characteristics and Cytotoxicity of Fulvestrant Loaded Nanoparticles
Current Drug Therapy Juglone Exerts Cytotoxic, Anti-proliferative and Anti-invasive Effects on Glioblastoma Multiforme in a Cell Culture Model
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Curcumin Sensitizes Cancers Towards TRAIL-induced Apoptosis via Extrinsic and Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathways
Current Drug Targets Recent Advances and Developments in Treatment Strategies Against Pancreatic Cancer
Current Clinical Pharmacology Cancer Therapy: Targeting Cell Cycle Regulators
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry The Important Role of Oncolytic Viruses in Common Cancer Treatments
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews Importance of Aquaporins in the Physiopathology of Brain Edema
Current Pharmaceutical Design Recent Advances in Application of Poly-Epsilon-Caprolactone and its Derivative Copolymers for Controlled Release of Anti-Tumor Drugs
Current Cancer Drug Targets