endokannabinoidijärjestelmä

Endocannabinoids are endogenous lipid signaling molecules that activate cannabinoid receptors in the body's endocannabinoid system (ECS). The two best characterized endocannabinoids are anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine, AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). They are produced on demand in post-synaptic neurons from membrane phospholipid precursors and released to act on presynaptic CB1 receptors—and to a lesser extent CB2 receptors—modulating neurotransmitter release. This retrograde signaling helps regulate synaptic transmission and plasticity.

CB1 receptors are highly expressed in the brain and central nervous system, while CB2 receptors are more common in immune cells and peripheral tissues. The ECS influences a range of physiological processes including pain perception, mood, appetite, energy balance, sleep, inflammation, and autonomic functions.

Endocannabinoids are rapidly degraded by enzymes: fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) breaks down AEA, while monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) primarily degrades 2-AG. The rapid breakdown contributes to the transient signaling characteristic of endocannabinoids.

Exogenous cannabinoids such as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from cannabis also activate CB1 and CB2 receptors, producing psychoactive and other effects. Cannabidiol (CBD) modulates ECS activity indirectly and interacts with other receptor systems.

Research areas include the ECS’s role in pain management, neuroinflammation, metabolic disease, and psychiatric disorders, as well as the development of targeted therapies that minimize adverse effects.