Premium
Cannabinoid Receptors: Where They are and What They do
Author(s) -
Mackie K.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of neuroendocrinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.062
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1365-2826
pISSN - 0953-8194
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2008.01671.x
Subject(s) - endocannabinoid system , receptor , cannabinoid receptor , cannabinoid , g protein coupled receptor , gpr18 , rhodopsin like receptors , immune receptor , class c gpcr , cannabinoid receptor agonists , pharmacology , chemistry , cannabinoid receptor type 2 , biology , neuroscience , biochemistry , metabotropic receptor , antagonist , agonist
The endocannabinoid system consists of the endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids), cannabinoid receptors and the enzymes that synthesise and degrade endocannabinoids. Many of the effects of cannabinoids and endocannabinoids are mediated by two G protein‐coupled receptors (GPCRs), CB 1 and CB 2 , although additional receptors may be involved. CB 1 receptors are present in very high levels in several brain regions and in lower amounts in a more widespread fashion. These receptors mediate many of the psychoactive effects of cannabinoids. CB 2 receptors have a more restricted distribution, being found in a number of immune cells and in a few neurones. Both CB 1 and CB 2 couple primarily to inhibitory G proteins and are subject to the same pharmacological influences as other GPCRs. Thus, partial agonism, functional selectivity and inverse agonism all play important roles in determining the cellular response to specific cannabinoid receptor ligands.