Title:The Endocannabinoid System as a Biomarker for Diagnostic and Therapeutic
Applications in Depression and Anxiety
Volume: 22
Issue: 3
Author(s): Jocelyne Alcaraz-Silva, Daniel Feingold, Gerardo Viana-Torre, Henning Budde, Claudio Imperatori, Sérgio Machado and Eric Murillo-Rodríguez*
Affiliation:
- Laboratorio de Neurociencias Moleculares e Integrativas, Escuela de Medicina División Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad
Anáhuac Mayab, Mérida, Yucatán, México
- Intercontinental Neuroscience Research Group, Merida,
Mexico
Keywords:
2-Arachidonoylglycerol, anandamide membrane transporter, cannabinoid receptors, depression, diacylglycerol lipase, fatty acid amide hydrolase, monoacylglycerol lipase.
Abstract:
Background: Depression and anxiety belong to a family of mental disturbances that have
increased significantly in recent years. The etiology of both disorders comprises multiple and complex
factors, from genetic background to environmental influence. Since depression and anxiety present severe
symptoms, they represent a greater clinical burden and greater therapeutic difficulty. Currently,
standardized diagnostic procedures for depression and anxiety allow for the addition of further treatments,
including psychotherapy and/or pharmacological intervention, with effective outcomes. However,
further steps should be considered with regard to consideration of the endocannabinoid system’s
role in depression and anxiety.
Objective: This study aimed to review the evidence from animal research and clinical studies on the role
of cannabinoid receptors, the major endocannabinoids -anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol
(2-AG)- and the enzymes related to the synthesis and degradation of these chemicals as putative biomarkers
for diagnostic and therapeutic elements of depression and anxiety.
Methods: This review included the online search, identification, and analysis of articles (basic and
clinical trials) published in English in PubMed linked to the role of cannabinoid receptors, AEA, 2-
AG, and the enzymes associated with the synthesis and degradation of these endocannabinoids in depression
and anxiety.
Results: The neurobiological relevance of the endocannabinoid system offers genetic or pharmacological
manipulation of this system as a potential strategy for the diagnostic and clinical management of
mood disorders, including depression and anxiety.
Conclusion: Although the described approach in this review is promising, no solid evidence is yet
available, and along with additional experiments using animal models that mimic human depression
and anxiety, clinical trials are needed to explore the role of the endocannabinoid system’s elements as
well as the anandamide membrane transporter, none of which have been adequately studied in depression
and anxiety.
