Title:Role of the Endocannabinoid System in the Neuroendocrine Responses to Inflammation
Volume: 20
Issue: 29
Author(s): Andrea De Laurentiis, Hugo A. Araujo and Valeria Rettori
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Anandamide, cannabinoid receptors, infection, cytokines, hormones, hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal gland.
Abstract: A few years ago the endocannabinoid system has been recognized as a major neuromodulatory system whose main functions
are to exert and maintain the body homeostasis. Several different endocannabinoids are synthesized in a broad class of cell types, including
those in the brain and the immune system; they bind to cannabinoid G-protein-coupled receptors, having profound effects on a variety
of behavioral, neuroendocrine and autonomic functions. The coordinated neural, immune, behavioral and endocrine responses to inflammation
are orchestrated to provide an important defense against infections and help homeostasis restoration in the body. These responses
are executed and controlled mainly by the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis. Also, the hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal system is essential
for survival and plays a role recovering the homeostasis under a variety of stress conditions, including inflammation and infection.
Since the endocannabinoid system components are present at sites involved in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis regulation, several studies
were performed in order to investigate the endocannabinoid-mediated neurotransmitters and hormones secretion under physiological and
pathological conditions. In the present review we focused on the endocannabinoids actions on the neuroendocrine response to inflammation
and infection. We provide a detailed overview of the current understanding of the role of the endocannabinoid system in the recovering
of homeostasis as well as potential pharmacological therapies based on the manipulation of endocannabinoid system components that
could provide novel treatments for a wide range of disorders.
