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Re-visiting the Endocannabinoid System and Its Therapeutic Potential in Obesity and Associated Diseases

  • Pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance (RM Watanabe, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of review

The purpose of the review was to revisit the possibility of the endocannabinoid system being a therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity by focusing on the peripheral roles in regulating appetite and energy metabolism.

Recent findings

Previous studies with the global cannabinoid receptor blocker rimonabant, which has both central and peripheral properties, showed that this drug has beneficial effects on cardiometabolic function but severe adverse psychiatric side effects. Consequently, focus has shifted to peripherally restricted cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor blockers as possible therapeutic agents that mitigate or eliminate the untoward effects in the central nervous system.

Summary

Targeting the endocannabinoid system using novel peripheral CB1 receptor blockers with negligible penetrance across the blood-brain barrier may prove to be effective therapy for obesity and its co-morbidities. Perhaps the future of blockers targeting CB1 receptors will be tissue-specific neutral antagonists (e.g., skeletal muscle specific to treat peripheral insulin resistance, adipocyte-specific to treat fat excess, liver-specific to treat fatty liver and hepatic insulin resistance).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. USC Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, 2250 Alcazar Street, Suite 213, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA

    Joyce M. Richey

  2. Diabetes and Obesity Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 8700 Beverly Blvd, Thalians E103, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA

    Orison Woolcott

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  1. Joyce M. Richey
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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Pathogenesis of Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance

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Richey, J.M., Woolcott, O. Re-visiting the Endocannabinoid System and Its Therapeutic Potential in Obesity and Associated Diseases. Curr Diab Rep 17, 99 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-017-0924-x

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