The endogenous cannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol bind to the cannabinoid receptors of type 1 and 2. These receptors are also the binding sites for exogenous, both natural and synthetic, cannabinoids that are used for recreation purposes. Until recently, cannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors have attracted little interest among nephrologists; however, a full endocannabinoid system (ECS) is present in the kidney and it has recently emerged as an important player in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, drug nephrotoxicity, and progressive chronic kidney disease. This newly established role of the ECS in the kidney might have therapeutic relevance, as pharmacological modulation of the ECS has renoprotective effects in experimental animals, raising hope for future potential applications in humans. In addition, over the last years, there has been a number of reported cases of acute kidney injury (AKI) associated with the use of synthetic cannabinoids that appear to have higher potency and rate of toxicity than natural Cannabis. This poorly recognized cause of renal injury should be considered in the differential diagnosis of AKI, particularly in young people. In this review we provide an overview of preclinical evidence indicating a role of the ECS in renal disease and discuss potential future therapeutic applications. Moreover, we give a critical update of synthetic cannabinoid-induced AKI

The role of cannabinoid signaling in acute and chronic kidney diseases

Barutta F.
First
;
Bruno G.;Mastrocola R.;Bellini S.;Gruden G.
Last
2018-01-01

Abstract

The endogenous cannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol bind to the cannabinoid receptors of type 1 and 2. These receptors are also the binding sites for exogenous, both natural and synthetic, cannabinoids that are used for recreation purposes. Until recently, cannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors have attracted little interest among nephrologists; however, a full endocannabinoid system (ECS) is present in the kidney and it has recently emerged as an important player in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, drug nephrotoxicity, and progressive chronic kidney disease. This newly established role of the ECS in the kidney might have therapeutic relevance, as pharmacological modulation of the ECS has renoprotective effects in experimental animals, raising hope for future potential applications in humans. In addition, over the last years, there has been a number of reported cases of acute kidney injury (AKI) associated with the use of synthetic cannabinoids that appear to have higher potency and rate of toxicity than natural Cannabis. This poorly recognized cause of renal injury should be considered in the differential diagnosis of AKI, particularly in young people. In this review we provide an overview of preclinical evidence indicating a role of the ECS in renal disease and discuss potential future therapeutic applications. Moreover, we give a critical update of synthetic cannabinoid-induced AKI
2018
94
2
252
258
https://www.journals.elsevier.com/kidney-international
acute kidney injury; albuminuria; cannabinoid receptor type 1; cannabinoid receptor type 2; cannabinoids; renal fibrosis; Acute Kidney Injury; Animals; Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists; Disease Models, Animal; Endocannabinoids; Humans; Kidney; Receptors, Cannabinoid; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Signal Transduction
Barutta F.; Bruno G.; Mastrocola R.; Bellini S.; Gruden G.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
54)KidneyInt2018.pdf

Accesso riservato

Tipo di file: PDF EDITORIALE
Dimensione 1.55 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.55 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/1704153
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 14
  • Scopus 45
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 43
social impact