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New vistas for treatment of obesity and diabetes? Endocannabinoid signalling and metabolism in the modulation of energy balance
Author(s) -
Lipina Christopher,
Rastedt Wiebke,
Irving Andrew J.,
Hundal Harinder S.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.201200031
Subject(s) - endocannabinoid system , dyslipidemia , cannabinoid receptor , receptor , biology , cannabinoid , type 2 diabetes , obesity , diabetes mellitus , signalling , lipid metabolism , endocrinology , medicine , neuroscience , microbiology and biotechnology , antagonist
Growing evidence suggests that pathological overactivation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) is associated with dyslipidemia, obesity and diabetes. Indeed, this signalling system acting through cannabinoid receptors has been shown to function both centrally and peripherally to regulate feeding behaviour as well as energy expenditure and metabolism. Consequently, modulation of these receptors can promote significant alterations in body weight and associated metabolic profile. Importantly, blocking cannabinoid receptor type 1 function has been found to prevent obesity and metabolic dysfunction in various murine models and in humans. Here we provide a detailed account of the known physiological role of the ECS in energy balance, and explore how recent studies have delivered novel insights into the potential targeting of this system as a therapeutic means for treating obesity and related metabolic disorders.