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The endocannabinoid‐alcohol crosstalk: Recent advances on a bi‐faceted target
Author(s) -
Lavanco Gianluca,
Castelli Valentina,
Brancato Anna,
Tringali Giuseppe,
Plescia Fulvio,
Cannizzaro Carla
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
clinical and experimental pharmacology and physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.752
H-Index - 103
eISSN - 1440-1681
pISSN - 0305-1870
DOI - 10.1111/1440-1681.12967
Subject(s) - endocannabinoid system , crosstalk , neuroscience , cannabinoid receptor , addiction , receptor , synaptic plasticity , biology , medicine , physics , optics , agonist
Summary Increasing evidence has focusesed on the endocannabinoid system as a relevant player in the induction of aberrant synaptic plasticity and related addictive phenotype following chronic excessive alcohol drinking. In addition, the endocannabinoid system is implicated in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease. Interestingly, whereas the involvement of CB 1 receptors in alcohol rewarding properties is established, the central and peripheral action of CB 2 signalling is still to be elucidated. This review aims at giving the input to deepen knowledge on the role of the endocannabinoid system, highlighting the advancing evidence that suggests that CB 1 and CB 2 receptors may play opposite roles in the regulation of both the reinforcing properties of alcohol in the brain and the mechanisms responsible for cell injury and inflammation in the hepatic tissue. The manipulation of the endocannabinoid system could represent a bi‐faceted strategy to counteract alcohol‐related dysfunction in central transmission and liver structural and functional disarrangement.