Potential metabolic and behavioural roles of the putative endocannabinoid receptors gpr18, gpr55 and gpr119 in feeding

Endocannabinoids are ancient biomolecules involved in several cellular (e.g., metabo-lism) and physiological (e.g., eating behaviour) functions. Indeed, eating behaviour alterations in marijuana users have led to investigate the orexigenic/anorexigenic effects of cannabinoids in ani-mal/human models...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Ramírez-Orozco, R.E., García-Ruiz, R., Morales, Paula, Villalón, C.M., Villafán-Bernal, J.R., Marichal-Cancino, B.A.
Format: article
Status:Versión aceptada para publicación
Publication Date:2019
Country:España
Institution:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repository:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/206510
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/206510
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Feeding control
Endocannabinoid system
GPR18
GPR55
GPR119
Description
Summary:Endocannabinoids are ancient biomolecules involved in several cellular (e.g., metabo-lism) and physiological (e.g., eating behaviour) functions. Indeed, eating behaviour alterations in marijuana users have led to investigate the orexigenic/anorexigenic effects of cannabinoids in ani-mal/human models. This increasing body of research suggests that the endocannabinoid system plays an important role in feeding control. Accordingly, within the endocannabinoid system, cannabinoid receptors, enzymes and genes represent potential therapeutic targets for dealing with multiple metabolic and behavioural dysfunctions (e.g., obesity, anorexia, etc.). Paradoxically, our understanding on the endocannabinoid system as a cellular mediator is yet limited. For example: (i) only two cannabinoid receptors have been classified, but they are not enough to explain the pharmacological profile of several experimental effects induced by cannabinoids; and (ii) several orphan G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) interact with cannabinoids and we do not know how to classify them (e.g., GPR18, GPR55 and GPR119; amongst others). On this basis, the present review attempts to summarize the lines of evidence supporting the potential role of GPR18, GPR55 and GPR119 in metabolism and feeding control that may explain some of the divergent effects and puzzling data related to cannabinoid research. Moreover, their therapeutic potential in feeding behaviour alterations will be considered.