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Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor-Mediated Anti-nociception in Models of Acute and Chronic Pain

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Abstract

The endocannabinoid system consists of cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors, endogenous ligands and their synthesising/metabolising enzymes. Cannabinoid receptors are present at key sites involved in the relay and modulation of nociceptive information. The analgesic effects of cannabinoids have been well documented. The usefulness of nonselective cannabinoid agonists can, however, be limited by psychoactive side effects associated with activation of CB1 receptors. Following the recent evidence for CB2 receptors existing in the nervous system and reports of their up-regulation in chronic pain states and neurodegenerative diseases, much research is now aimed at shedding light on the role of the CB2 receptor in human disease. Recent studies have demonstrated anti-nociceptive effects of selective CB2 receptor agonists in animal models of pain in the absence of CNS side effects. This review focuses on the analgesic potential of CB2 receptor agonists for inflammatory, post-operative and neuropathic pain states and discusses their possible sites and mechanisms of action.

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Abbreviations

SNL:

spinal nerve ligation

CCI:

chronic constriction injury

CB1 :

cannabinoid CB1 receptor

CB2 :

cannabinoid CB2 receptor

DRG:

dorsal root ganglion

PEA:

palmitoyl ethanolamide

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Acknowledgement

We would like to thank Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and GlaxoSmithKline for financial support towards the original research presented in this review.

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  1. Institute of Neuroscience, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK

    Maulik D. Jhaveri, Devi R. Sagar, Steven J. R. Elmes, David A. Kendall & Victoria Chapman

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  1. Maulik D. Jhaveri
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  2. Devi R. Sagar
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  3. Steven J. R. Elmes
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  4. David A. Kendall
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  5. Victoria Chapman
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Correspondence to Maulik D. Jhaveri.

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Jhaveri and Sagar joint first author.

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Jhaveri, M.D., Sagar, D.R., Elmes, S.J.R. et al. Cannabinoid CB2 Receptor-Mediated Anti-nociception in Models of Acute and Chronic Pain. Mol Neurobiol 36, 26–35 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-007-8007-7

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