ABSTRACT: A growing number of orphan G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have been reported to be activated by lipid ligands, such as lysophosphatidic acid, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), and cannabinoids, for which there are already well established receptors. These new ligand claims are controversial due to either lack of independent confirmations or conflicting reports. ... Continue Reading
Inflammation
STUDY: Cannabinoids as Therapeutic Agents for Ablating Neuroinflammatory Disease
ABSTRACT: Cannabinoids have been reported to alter the activities of immune cells in vitro and in vivo. These compounds may serve as ideal agents for adjunct treatment of pathological processes that have a neuroinflammatory component. As highly lipophilic molecules, they readily access the brain. Furthermore, they have relatively low toxicity and can be engineered to ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Allosteric modulation of the 5-HT3 receptor
ABSTRACT: 5-Hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that play important roles in depression, anxiety, substance abuse, emesis, inflammatory pain, spinal nociception, gastrointestinal function, and cardiovascular reflexes. Probably the most studied modulators of 5-HT3 receptors are the high affinity competitive ‘setron’ antagonists typified by ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Neuropathogenic Disorders – Cannabinoids as Therapeutic Agents for Ablating Neuroinflammatory Disease
ABSTRACT: Cannabinoids have been reported to alter the activities of immune cells in vitro and in vivo. These compounds may serve as ideal agents for adjunct treatment of pathological processes that have a neuroinflammatory component. As highly lipophilic molecules, they readily access the brain. Furthermore, they have relatively low toxicity and can be engineered to ... Continue Reading
STUDY: Activation of Cannabioid Receptor 2 Attenuates Leukocyte-Endothelial Interactions and Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction under Inflammatory Conditions
ABSTRACT: Previous studies have shown that modulation of the receptor-mediated cannabinoid system during neuroinflammation can produce potent neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects. However in this context, little is known about how selective activation of the cannabinoid type-2 receptor (CB2R) affects the activated state of the brain endothelium and blood brain ... Continue Reading