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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
123 articles
Newest firstAims To describe differences in the expression of genes encoding cannabinoid receptors (CNR1, CNR2), the associated receptor GRP55 and the enzymes fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MGLL) between individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and controls in key mesocorticolimbic brain regions. Design Case-control, observational postmortem study comparing gene expression in brain tissue fr…
Open article record in new tab ↗Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are lipid-derived neuromodulators that regulate numerous neurophysiological processes by modulating synaptic transmission. Synthesised on demand in response to increased postsynaptic intracellular calcium or activation of postsynaptic G-protein coupled receptors, eCBs are rapidly degraded, resulting in transient, tightly regulated signalling. Dysregulation in the endocannabinoid system (ECS…
The endocannabinoid ligand anandamide (AEA) plays a role in fear extinction, the conceptual foundation of the gold standard treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), exposure-based psychotherapy. Converging evidence from animal models and non-clinical human studies highlights the potential to enhance fear extinction pharmacologically by inhibiting the AEA catabolic enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAA…
Purpose The global increase in the prevalence of substance use disorders (SUD) has resulted in higher mortality rates. While heroin use has decreased or stabilized, methamphetamine use is increasing, and the combined use of opioids and methamphetamine is becoming more common. FAAH is an enzyme that hydrolyzes endocannabinoid substances and plays a role in neurobehavioral processes. The aim of this study was to inv…
Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is a central component of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), where it primarily regulates intracellular levels of anandamide (AEA) through enzymatic hydrolysis. Although FAAH has been extensively studied in neural and immune contexts, its involvement in female reproductive physiology is receiving increasing attention. Accumulating evidence indicates that FAAH participates in severa…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Childhood absence epilepsy (CAE) arises from dysfunctional corticothalamic networks generating spike wave discharges (SWDs) and behavioral arrest. Despite available treatments, a significant proportion of patients remain pharmacoresistant and develop neuropsychiatric comorbidities. The endocannabinoid system (ECS), through activity-dependent signaling, is a key regulator of synaptic and network stabilit…
Open article record in new tab ↗Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a severe mental health disorder with limited treatment options. Gold standard treatment includes cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) that incorporate exposure to traumatic memories to facilitate extinction. CBT can be effective in PTSD, but effects are incomplete and symptoms are prone to spontaneous return. Pharmacologically facilitating fear extinction could potentiate t…
Rationale Exposure to traumatic events can lead to alterations in social and anxiety-related behaviors. Emerging evidence suggests that peripheral host-defense processes are implicated in the expression of stress-induced behavioral responses and may be targeted to mitigate the negative sequalae of stress exposure. Objectives In this study, we used the peripherally restricted FAAH inhibitor URB937 to investigate th…
The role of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in major depressive disorder (MDD) is under-investigated despite reports of increased activity and/or concentration of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), a key ECS enzyme, in fronto-limbic brain regions in some animal models of depressive behavior. We hypothesized that [11C]CURB λk3, an index of FAAH density, would be elevated in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and…
Background The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is one of the most important systems modulating functions in the body. The ECS, via cannabinoid (CB: CB1 and CB2) receptors, endocannabinoids occurring in the brain (e.g., anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG)) and enzymes degrading endocannabinoids in the brain (fatty-acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL)), plays a key role in the r…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background and hypothesis Cognitive impairments are particularly disabling for patients with a psychotic disorder and often persist despite optimization of antipsychotic treatment. Thus, motivating an extension of the research focus on the endocannabinoid system. The aim of this study was to evaluate group differences in brain fatty acid amid hydrolase (FAAH), an endocannabinoid enzyme between first-episode psycho…
The endocannabinoid N-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA) is a pro-homeostatic bioactive lipid known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, immunomodulatory, and neuroprotective properties, which may contrast/mitigate Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. This study explores the therapeutic potential of targeting fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), the major enzyme degrading AEA, in mouse models of amyloidosis (APP/PS…
Cannabinol (CBN) is a secondary metabolite of cannabis whose beneficial activity on inflammatory diseases of human skin has attracted increasing attention. Here, we sought to investigate the possible modulation by CBN of the major elements of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), in both normal and lipopolysaccharide-inflamed human keratinocytes (HaCaT cells). CBN was found to increase the expression of cannabinoid re…
Background Stress and traumatic experiences are well-established risk factors for psychiatric disorders. Stressful events can induce symptoms of anxiety and depression and may lead to overt psychosis, especially when there is an innate biological vulnerability. This study explores the role of the stress-regulating endocannabinoid system, specifically the activity of the enzyme fatty acid amid hydrolase (FAAH), a k…
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis by regulating immune response, energy metabolism, cognitive functions, and neuronal activity. It consists of endocannabinoids (eCBs), cannabinoid receptors (CBRs), and enzymes involved in eCB biosynthesis and degradation. Increasing evidence highlights the involvement of the ECS under several pathological conditions, making it a promi…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Alterations of dopamine (DA) transmission in the brain reward system can be associated with an addictive-like state defined as food addiction (FA), common in obese individuals. Subjects affected by FA experience negative feelings when abstinent from their preferred diet and may develop mood disorders, including depression, sustained by alterations in brain DA pathways. Objective This study aims to inves…
Social relationships are central to well-being. A subgroup of afferent nerve fibers, C-tactile (CT) afferents, are primed to respond to affective, socially relevant touch and may mitigate the effects of stress. The endocannabinoid ligand anandamide (AEA) modulates both social reward and stress. We thus hypothesized that AEA levels would be associated with the perceived pleasantness of affective touch in humans. Ac…
Background and aims Intestinal fibrosis, a frequent complication of inflammatory bowel disease, is characterized by stricture formation with no pharmacological treatment to date. N-acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA) is responsible for the hydrolysis of acylethanolamides (AEs, eg, palmitoylethanolamide and oleoylethanolamide). Here, we investigated NAAA and AE signaling in gut fibrosis. Methods NAAA and AE signal…
Emerging research links the endocannabinoid system to gut microbiota, influencing nociception, mood, and immunity, yet the molecular interactions remain unclear. This study focused on the effects of probiotics on ECS markers-cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH)-in dancers, a group selected due to their high exposure to physical and psychological stress. In a double-blind, placebo…
Opioid-related overdose deaths are still on the rise in North America, emphasizing the need to better understand the underlying neurobiological mechanisms regarding the development of opioid use disorder (OUD). Recent evidence from preclinical and clinical studies indicate that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) may play a crucial role in stress and reward, both involved in the development and maintenance of substan…
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