Generic placeholder image

Current Pharmaceutical Design

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1381-6128
ISSN (Online): 1873-4286

Expression and Function of the Endocannabinoid System in Glial Cells

Author(s): Paola Massi, Marta Valenti, Daniele Bolognini and Daniela Parolaro

Volume 14, Issue 23, 2008

Page: [2289 - 2298] Pages: 10

DOI: 10.2174/138161208785740135

Price: $65

Abstract

In the last few years the role and significance of the glia in CNS function and pathology have been drastically reassessed. Glial cells physiology appears very different in healthy versus pathological brain and the recent identification of cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands in glia has triggered a number of studies exploring the role of (endo)cannabinoid system in glia functionality and disease. (Endo)cannabinoids exert their effects in these cells directly affecting some important peculiar functions of the glia and actively promoting biochemical signals ending in a prosurvival fate for these cells. By contrast, (endo)cannabinoids induce a selective death in glia-derived tumor cells. Of special physiological and therapeutic relevance is the reported ability of glial cells during neuropathological conditions to release an increased amount of endocannabinoids and to overexpress cannabinoid receptors. This evidence has suggested that the endocannabinoids production by glial cells may constitute an endogenous defense mechanism preventing the propagation of neuroinflammation and cell damage. The present paper will review the evidence supporting the regulatory role of (endo)cannabinoids in glia function, holding in consideration their therapeutic potential as neuroprotective and/or anticancer agents.

Keywords: Glia, microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, neuroprotection, cell survival, glioma


Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy