Abstract
The use of cannabinoids for medicinal purposes has attracted wide interest in recent years, especially after the discovery of the endocannabinoid system. However, mechanisms relevant for neuroprotection and recovery of both exogenously applied and endogenous cannabinoids are only partly established. Supported by the observation that cannabinoids are released after neuronal injury and disorder, various CNS applications are currently investigated and both clinical and experimental data are now emerging. The present review describes possible mechanisms of cannabinoid actions relevant for neuroprotection, with a focus on excitotoxic cascades, oxidative stress and inflammation. The complexity of the system is outlined with regards to different cannabinoids, the receptors and cascades they activate, as well as the cell types and experimental approaches utilised to study their action. Furthermore, the unresolved problem of targeting protective pathways, while avoiding psychoactive and detrimental cascades is discussed.
Keywords: anandamide, excitotoxicity, inflammation, oxidative stress, transmitter release
Current Neuropharmacology
Title: Search and Rescue: Identification of Cannabinoid Actions Relevant for Neuronal Survival and Protection
Volume: 2 Issue: 1
Author(s): B. Platt and A. J. Drysdale
Affiliation:
Keywords: anandamide, excitotoxicity, inflammation, oxidative stress, transmitter release
Abstract: The use of cannabinoids for medicinal purposes has attracted wide interest in recent years, especially after the discovery of the endocannabinoid system. However, mechanisms relevant for neuroprotection and recovery of both exogenously applied and endogenous cannabinoids are only partly established. Supported by the observation that cannabinoids are released after neuronal injury and disorder, various CNS applications are currently investigated and both clinical and experimental data are now emerging. The present review describes possible mechanisms of cannabinoid actions relevant for neuroprotection, with a focus on excitotoxic cascades, oxidative stress and inflammation. The complexity of the system is outlined with regards to different cannabinoids, the receptors and cascades they activate, as well as the cell types and experimental approaches utilised to study their action. Furthermore, the unresolved problem of targeting protective pathways, while avoiding psychoactive and detrimental cascades is discussed.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Platt B. and Drysdale J. A., Search and Rescue: Identification of Cannabinoid Actions Relevant for Neuronal Survival and Protection, Current Neuropharmacology 2004; 2 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570159043476972
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1570159043476972 |
Print ISSN 1570-159X |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-6190 |
- 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
-
Meet Our Editorial Board Member
Current Neuropharmacology Transient Opening of the Blood-Brain Barrier by Vasoactive Peptides to Increase CNS Drug Delivery: Reality Versus Wishful Thinking?
Current Neuropharmacology Phenolic Compounds as Nutraceuticals or Functional Food Ingredients
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Tumor Suppressor Gene ARF as a Sensor of Oxidative Stress
Current Molecular Medicine Copper Compounds in Cancer Chemotherapy
Current Medicinal Chemistry Neovascular Age-related Macular Degeneration: Past, Present, and Future
Current Angiogenesis (Discontinued) Small-Molecule Inhibitors of Bcl-2 Family Proteins as Therapeutic Agents in Cancer
Recent Patents on Anti-Cancer Drug Discovery The Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway and Resistance Mechanisms Developed Against the Proteasomal Inhibitors in Cancer Cells
Current Drug Targets Patent Selections
Recent Patents on Nanomedicine Pharmaceutical Targeting of the Brain
Current Pharmaceutical Design Cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) and Nicotinic Acid Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate (NAADP): Novel Regulators of Ca 2+-Signaling and Cell Function
Current Molecular Medicine Targeting the Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/Akt/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Network in Cancer Stem Cells
Current Medicinal Chemistry Inorganic Nanoparticles for Enhanced Photodynamic Cancer Therapy
Current Drug Discovery Technologies Small Molecule Integrin Antagonists in Cancer Therapy
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Safety and Side Effects of Cannabidiol, a Cannabis sativa Constituent
Current Drug Safety Advances in Photodynamic Therapy Assisted by Electroporation
Current Drug Metabolism Advances in Gene Therapy for Bladder Cancer
Current Gene Therapy The use of Azoles Containing Natural Products in Cancer Prevention and Treatment: An Overview
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Applications of Lentiviral Vectors for shRNA Delivery and Transgenesis
Current Gene Therapy Uptake of [¹⁸F]tetrafluoroborate in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells is Induced after Stimulation of the Sodium Iodide Symporter
Current Cancer Drug Targets