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Programming of neural cells by (endo)cannabinoids: from physiological rules to emerging therapies

2014; Nature Portfolio; Volume: 15; Issue: 12 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1038/nrn3846

1471-0048

Mauro Maccarrone, Manuel Guzmán, Ken Mackie, Patrick Doherty, Tibor Harkany,

Pancreatic function and diabetes

Endocannabinoids are involved in regulating neural progenitor cell proliferation, as well as neuronal and glial differentiation. In this Review, Maccarrone, Harkany and colleagues discuss mechanisms of endocannabinoid signalling, the action of plant cannabinoids in the foetal brain, and their exploitation to modulate diseases associated with defective cell cycle control, particularly cancer. Among the many signalling lipids, endocannabinoids are increasingly recognized for their important roles in neuronal and glial development. Recent experimental evidence suggests that, during neuronal differentiation, endocannabinoid signalling undergoes a fundamental switch from the prenatal determination of cell fate to the homeostatic regulation of synaptic neurotransmission and bioenergetics in the mature nervous system. These studies also offer novel insights into neuropsychiatric disease mechanisms and contribute to the public debate about the benefits and the risks of cannabis use during pregnancy and in adolescence.