“Since the cannabinoid CB1 receptor modulates various types of aversive responses, this study tested the hypothesis that enhancement of endocannabinoid signalling in the dorsolateral periaqueductal grey inhibits panic-like reactions in rats…
The present results confirm the anti-aversive property of direct CB1 receptor activation in the dorsolateral periaqueductal grey…
Altogether, these results suggest that anandamide signalling is recruited only under certain types of aversive stimuli.”
“The concept of the central nervous system (CNS) as an immune-privileged site, essentially due to the presence of the blood brain barrier, appears to be overly simplistic. Indeed, within healthy CNS immune activities are permitted and are required for neuronal function and host defense, not only due to the presence of the resident innate immune cells of the brain, but also by virtue of a complex cross-talk of the CNS with peripheral immune cells.
Nonetheless, long-standing and persisting neuroinflammatory responses are most often detrimental and characterize several neuroinflammatory diseases, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
A growing body of evidence suggests that Cannabis sativa-derived phytocannabinoids, as well as synthetic cannabinoids, are endowed with significant immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, both in peripheral tissues and in the CNS, through the activation of cannabinoid receptors.
In this review, the immunomodulatory effects of cannabinoid signaling on the most relevant brain immune cells will be discussed. In addition, the impact of cannabinoid regulation on the overall integration of the manifold brain immune responses will also be highlighted, along with the implication of these compounds as potential agents for the management of neuroinflammatory disorders.”
“The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R) on the repair process of injured skeletal muscle, which could potentially lay solid foundations as a novel target for curing muscular fibrosis in future…
These results revealed multiple effects of CB2R in systematically inhibiting fibrotic formation and improving muscle regeneration, alongside its potential for clinical application in patients with skeletal muscle injuries and diseases.”
“Endocannabinoids (ECBs) such as anandamide (AEA) act by activating cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) or 2 (CB2) receptors. The anxiolytic effect of drugs that facilitate ECB effects is associated with increase in AEA levels in several encephalic areas, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC).
Activation of CB1 receptors by CB1 agonists injected directly into these areas is usually anxiolytic.
However, depending on the encephalic region being investigated and on the stressful experiences, opposite effects were observed, as reported in the ventral HIP. In addition, contradictory results have been reported after CB1 activation in the dorsal HIP (dHIP).
Therefore, in the present paper we have attempted to verify if directly interfering with ECB metabolism/reuptake in the prelimbic (PL) portion of the medial PFC (MPFC) and dHIP would produce different effects in two conceptually distinct animal models: the elevated plus maze (EPM) and the Vogel conflict test (VCT).
We observed drugs which interfere with ECB reuptake/metabolism in both the PL and in the dentate gyrus of the dHIP induced anxiolytic-like effect, in both the EPM and in the VCT via CB1 receptors, suggesting CB1 signaling in these brain regions modulate defensive responses to both innate and learned threatening stimuli.
This data further strengthens previous results indicating modulation of hippocampal and MPFC activity via CB1 by ECBs, which could be therapeutically targeted to treat anxiety disorders.”
“Activation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can induce vasoconstriction via calcium signal-mediated and Rho-dependent pathways…
Our aim was to provide evidence that GPCR signaling-induced 2-AG production and activation of vascular type1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1R) is capable of reducing agonist-induced vasoconstriction and hypertension…
Pharmacological or genetic loss of CB1R function augmented AngII-induced blood pressure rise in mice.
These data demonstrate that vasoconstrictor effect of GPCR agonists is attenuated via Gq/11-mediated vascular endocannabinoid formation.
Agonist-induced endocannabinoid-mediated CB1R activation is a significant physiological modulator of vascular tone.
Thus, the selective modulation of GPCR signaling-induced endocannabinoid release has a therapeutic potential in case of increased vascular tone and hypertension.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25595485
http://www.thctotalhealthcare.com/category/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/
“The cannabinoid receptors are upregulated in many types of cancers, including mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and have been suggested to constitute novel therapeutic targets.
… the relative expression of the anandamide synthesizing and metabolizing enzymes in MCL is heavily perturbed.
This finding, together with high expression of cannabinoid receptors, could favor enhanced anandamide signaling and suggest that targeting the endocannabinoid system might be considered as part of lymphoma therapy.”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25594062
“We have previously shown that exposure of MCL cells to cannabinoids induces cell death in vitro and reduces tumor growth in xenograft mouse models… cancer tissues express higher levels of cannabinoid receptors than the non-malignant counterparts and the endocannabinoid system is therefore considered as a potential novel therapeutic target in cancer therapy.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4278325/
“Disturbances in the regulation of reward and aversion in the brain may underlie disorders such as obesity and eating disorders.
We previously showed that the cannabis receptor (CB1) inverse agonist rimonabant, an anti-obesity drug withdrawn due to depressogenic side effects, diminished neural reward responses yet increased aversive responses. Unlike rimonabant, tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCv) is a neutral CB1 receptor antagonist and may therefore produce different modulations of the neural reward system…
Conclusions: Our findings are the first to show that treatment with the CB1 neutral antagonist THCv increases neural responding to rewarding and aversive stimuli.
This effect profile suggests therapeutic activity in obesity, perhaps with a lowered risk of depressive side effects.”
“Cannabinoids, psychoactive substances present in cannabis, have been known to mankind for hundreds of years.
Apart from 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) substances found in the cannabis herb with the highest toxicological value are cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabinol (CBN).
The discovery of CB1 and CB2 receptors, located in various tissues (ranging from the brain to peripheral tissues), has defined the potential objective of these new chemical substances’ effects.
Many studies on the application of cannabinoids in the treatment of various diseases such as diabetes, neoplasms, inflammatory diseases, neurological conditions, pain and vomitting were conducted.
Drugs containing e.g. THC appear on the pharmaceutical market.
Substances affecting cannabinoid receptors may show beneficial effects…”
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25518584
“The endocannabinoid (eCB) system plays an important role in the control of mood, and its dysregulation has been implicated in several psychiatric disorders.
Targeting the eCB system appears to represent an attractive and novel approach to the treatment of depression and other mood disorders.
…the review provides discussion on compounds and drugs that target this system and might prove to be successful for the treatment of mood-related psychiatric disorders.
The discovery of increasingly selective modulators of CB receptors should enable the identification of optimal therapeutic strategies.
It should also maximize the likelihood of developing safe and effective treatments for debilitating psychiatric disorders.”
“Cannabinoids (CBs) show promise as neuroprotectants with some agents already licensed in humans for other conditions. We systematically reviewed CBs in preclinical stroke to guide further experimental protocols…
Cannabinoids reduced infarct volume in transient and permanent ischemia and in all subclasses: endocannabinoids, CB1/CB2 ligands, CB2 ligands, cannabidiol, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and HU-211. Early and late neuroscores significantly improved with CB use…
Overall, CBs significantly reduced infarct volume and improve functional outcome in experimental stroke.”