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The expanding field of cannabimimetic and related lipid mediators
Author(s) -
Bradshaw Heather B,
Walker J Michael
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706093
Subject(s) - anandamide , cannabinoid receptor , endocannabinoid system , lipid signaling , cannabinoid , chemistry , cannabinoid receptor antagonist , receptor , biochemistry , endogeny , g protein coupled receptor , pharmacology , biology , agonist
The discovery of the endogenous cannabimimetic lipid mediators, anandamide and 2‐arachidonoyl glycerol, opened the door to the discovery of other endogenous lipid mediators similar in structure and function. The majority of these compounds do not bind appreciably to known cannabinoid receptors; yet some of them produce cannabimimetic effects while others exert actions through novel mechanisms that remain to be elucidated. This review explores the growing diversity of recently discovered putative lipid mediators and their relationship to the endogenous cannabinoid system. The possibility that there remain many unidentified signalling lipids coupled with the evidence that many of these yield bioactive metabolites due to actions of known enzymes (e.g. cyclooxygenases, lipoxygenases, cytochrome P450s) suggests the existence of a large and complex family of lipid mediators about which only little is known at this time. The elucidation of the biochemistry and pharmacology of these compounds may provide therapeutic targets for a variety of conditions including sleep dysfunction, eating disorders, cardiovascular disease, as well as inflammation and pain. British Journal of Pharmacology (2005) 144 , 459–465. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706093