1st Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
J Appl Toxicol. 2013 Apr;33(4):246-64. doi: 10.1002/jat.2828. Epub 2013 Jan 8.
Considerable progress has been made, recently, in understanding the role of the endocannabinoid system in regard to neuroprotection. Endogenous cannabinoids have received increasing attention as potential protective agents in several cases of neuronal injury. The endocannabinoid system is comprised of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), their endogenous ligands (endocannabinoids) and proteins responsible for their metabolism. Endocannabinoids serve as retrograde signalling messengers in GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses, as well as modulators of post-synaptic transmission, interacting with other neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine and dopamine. Furthermore, endocannabinoids modulate neuronal, glial and endothelial cell function and exert neuromodulatory, anti-excitotoxic, anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory effects. Physiological stimuli and pathological conditions lead to differential increases in brain endocannabinoids that regulate distinct biological functions. The purpose of this review is to present the available in vivo and in vitro experimental data, up to date, regarding the endocannabinoid system and its role in neuroprotection, as well as its possible therapeutic perspectives.
最近，人们在理解内源性大麻素系统在神经保护方面的作用方面取得了相当大的进展。内源性大麻素作为几种神经元损伤情况下的潜在保护剂，受到了越来越多的关注。内源性大麻素系统由大麻素受体（CB1 和 CB2）、其内源性配体（内源性大麻素）和负责其代谢的蛋白质组成。内源性大麻素作为 GABA 能和谷氨酸能突触中的逆行信号信使，以及突触后传递的调节剂，与包括去甲肾上腺素和多巴胺在内的其他神经递质相互作用。此外，内源性大麻素调节神经元、神经胶质细胞和内皮细胞的功能，并发挥神经调节、抗兴奋毒性、抗炎和血管舒张作用。生理刺激和病理条件导致大脑内源性大麻素的差异增加，从而调节不同的生物学功能。本综述的目的是介绍目前为止关于内源性大麻素系统及其在神经保护中的作用及其可能的治疗前景的体内和体外实验数据。
