Emerging role of the cannabinoid receptor CB 2 in immune regulation: Therapeutic prospects for neuroinflammation

Abstract

There is now a large body of data indicating that the cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB 2) is linked to a variety of immune events. This functional relevance appears to be most salient in the course of inflammation, a process during which there is an increased number of receptors that are available for activation. Studies aimed at elucidating signal transduction events resulting from CB 2 interaction with its native ligands, and of the role of exogenous cannabinoids in modulating this process, are providing novel insights into the role of CB 2 in maintaining a homeostatic immune balance within the host. Furthermore, these studies suggest that the CB 2 may serve as a selective molecular target for therapeutic manipulation of untoward immune responses, including those associated with a variety of neuropathies that exhibit a hyperinflammatory component. © Cambridge University Press 2009.