Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P21554 (cannabinoid receptor)
 3,582 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The endogenous cannabinoids bind to and activate two G protein-coupled receptors, the predominantly central cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1) and peripheral cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2). Whereas CB1 mediates the cannabinoid psychotropic, analgesic, and orectic effects, CB2 has been implicated recently in the regulation of liver fibrosis and atherosclerosis. Here we show that CB2-deficient mice have a markedly accelerated age-related trabecular bone loss and cortical expansion, although cortical thickness remains unaltered. These changes are reminiscent of human osteoporosis and may result from differential regulation of trabecular and cortical bone remodeling. The CB2(-/-) phenotype is also characterized by increased activity of trabecular osteoblasts (bone-forming cells), increased osteoclast (the bone-resorbing cell) number, and a markedly decreased number of diaphyseal osteoblast precursors. CB2 is expressed in osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts. A CB2-specific agonist that does not have any psychotropic effects enhances endocortical osteoblast number and activity and restrains trabecular osteoclastogenesis, apparently by inhibiting proliferation of osteoclast precursors and receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand expression in bone marrow-derived osteoblasts/stromal cells. The same agonist attenuates ovariectomy-induced bone loss and markedly stimulates cortical thickness through the respective suppression of osteoclast number and stimulation of endocortical bone formation. These results demonstrate that the endocannabinoid system is essential for the maintenance of normal bone mass by osteoblastic and osteoclastic CB2 signaling. Hence, CB2 offers a molecular target for the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis, the most prevalent degenerative disease in developed countries.
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PMID:Peripheral cannabinoid receptor, CB2, regulates bone mass. 1640 42

Neuroprotective properties of cannabinoids have been extensively studied in the last years in different neurodegenerative pathologies. This potential is based on the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-excitotoxic properties exhibited by these compounds that allow them to afford neuroprotection in different neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), multiple sclerosis (MS) and others. PD and HD are chronic pathologies that are caused by the degeneration of specific structures within the basal ganglia. In both disorders, the key mechanisms involved in the neuroprotection provided by cannabinoids include cannabinoid receptor-independent effects aimed at reducing the oxidative injury, and also cannabinoid 2 receptors (CB2)-mediated effects exerted by regulating the influence of reactive microglia on neuronal homeostasis. MS is an inflammatory demyelinating disorder primarily affecting spinal neurons and secondarily producing a malfunctioning and/or degeneration of other neuronal subpopulations located in supraspinal brain structures. There is evidence that both cannabinoid 1 receptors (CB1) and CB2 may afford a protective effect in this disease due to their immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and anti-excitotoxic properties. Lastly, neuroprotective effects of cannabinoids exerted by the activation of CB1 but also CB2 receptors have been also identified in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), another degenerative disease characterized by the selective death of spinal motoneurons. In the present review, we will collect the latest advances in the knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms through which cannabinoids might arrest/delay the degeneration of specific neuronal subpopulations in these motor-related disorders. This should serve to encourage that the present promising evidence obtained mainly at the preclinical level might progress to a real exploitation of neuroprotective benefits of potential cannabinoid-based medicines.
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PMID:Cannabinoids and neuroprotection in motor-related disorders. 1822 Jul 77