Vnitr Lek 2008, 54(2):191-194

Importance of the endocannabinoid system in the regulation of energy homeostasis

T. Kvasnička

III. interní klinika 1. lékařské fakulty UK a VFN Praha, přednosta prof. MUDr. Štěpán Svačina, DrSc., MBA

The endocannabinoid system is an endogenous signaling system that plays a role in the regulation of energy homeostasis and lipid and glucose metabolism-all of which can influence cardiometabolic risk. The endocannabinoid system appears to be a promising novel mechanistic pathway that modulates important aspects af cardiovascular and metabolic function. The endocannabinoid system is normally a silent physiologic system that becomes transiently activated, that is, only when needed. Evidence suggests that the endocannabinoid system is tonically overactive in human obesity and in animal models of genetic and diet-induced obesity. However, there is evidence in studies that the ECS is tonically overactivated in obesity, although it remains unclear whether overactivation of the ECS precedes or is consequent to expression of the obese phenotype. Rimonabant, a selective cannabinoid-1 receptor (CB1) blocker, has been shown to reduce smoking, body weight and improve and improves the profile of several metabolic risk factors in high-risk patients.

Keywords: endokannabinoids; anadamid receptors CB1, CB2; obesity; cardiometabolic risk; rimonabant

Received: June 10, 2007; Accepted: November 9, 2007; Published: February 1, 2008  Show citation