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The complications of promiscuity: endocannabinoid action and metabolism
Author(s) -
Alexander S P H,
Kendall D A
Publication year - 2007
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.0707456
Subject(s) - endocannabinoid system , biology , metabolism , neuroscience , signal transduction , pharmacology , receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry
In this review, we present our understanding of the action and metabolism of endocannabinoids and related endogenous molecules. It is clear that the interactions between the multiple endocannabinoid‐like molecules (ECLs) are highly complex, both at the level of signal transduction and metabolism. Thus, ECLs are a group of ligands active at 7‐transmembrane and nuclear receptors, as well as transmitter‐gated and ion channels. ECLs and their metabolites can converge on common endpoints (either metabolic or signalling) through contradictory or reinforcing pathways. We highlight the complexity of the endocannabinoid system, based on the promiscuous nature of ECLs and their metabolites, as well as the synthetic modulators of the endocannabinoid system. British Journal of Pharmacology (2007) 152 , 602–623; doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0707456 ; published online 17 September 2007