Editorial: Central & Peripheral Nervous Systems: Cannabinoid receptor ligands: clinical and neuropharmacological considerations relevant to future drug discovery and development

Abstract

There is now convincing evidence for the existence of at least two types of cannabinoid receptor, CB₁ and CB₂, both coupled to G proteins. CB₁ receptors are present in the central nervous system and in certain peripheral tissues where at least some are located at autonomic nerve terminals. CB₂ receptors are found only outside the brain, mainly in cells of the immune system. The existence of endogenous ligands for cannabinoid receptors, both centrally and peripherally, is also generally accepted. These recent discoveries have prompted the development of cannabinoid receptor antagonists and of selective cannabinoid CB₁ and CB₂ receptor agonists. These compounds are important experimental tools that will help to establish the physiological roles of cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands. The availability of such compounds should also facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic uses for cannabinoid receptor agonists and antagonists.