Review article
The endocannabinoid system in sepsis – a potential target to improve microcirculation?
Christian Lehmann
orcid.org/0000-0001-6419-9168
; Department of Anesthesia, Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia, Halifax, QE II Health Sciences Centre, 10 West Victoria, 1276 South Park St., Halifax, NS, B3H 2Y9, Canada
Mandana Kianian
; Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Juan Zhou
; Departments of Pharmacology, Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Vladimir Cerny
; Department of Anesthesia, Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada / Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, Dept. of Anesthesia and Intensive Care
Melanie Kelly
; Department of Pharmacology, Dalhousie University Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Abstract
During the last decade, research has identified the endocannabinoid system (ECS) as a key regulator of essential physiological functions, including the regulation of microvascular and immune function. Indeed, increasing evidence now suggests that release of endocannabinoids and activation of cannabinoid receptors occurs during sepsis and that manipulation of the ECS may represent an important therapeutic target to improve microcirculation in sepsis. In this review, the pharmacology and physiology of the ECS and the involvement of cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors and non-CB1R/CB2R pathways related to ECS activation will be described. This information will increase our comprehension of the role of lipid signaling pathways in sepsis and may lead to the identification of new drug targets for the treatment of impaired microcirculation.
Keywords
systemic inflammation; sepsis; microcirculation; lipid mediators; cannabinoids; cannabinoid receptors
Hrčak ID:
67525
URI
Publication date:
1.4.2011.
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