Novel Insights into Cannabinoid Receptors, Molecular Targets, and Therapeutic Potentials

Dear Colleagues,

Cannabis has been used as a remedy for illness for centuries in various cultures. Recently, there has been a renewed interest in the uses of cannabis and cannabinoids for medicinal purposes, due to improved legal status in medical cannabis and the advances in cannabinoid research. Cannabinoids are composed of three categories, including phytocannabinoids (the active chemical components of cannabis), endocannabinoids (the cannabinoid-like substances in our body), and synthetic cannabinoids (the cannabinoids prepared in the laboratory). Cannabinoids exert their effects through multiple receptors, targets and signaling pathways. In addition to CB1 and CB2, two well-established cannabinoid receptors, there are numerous molecular targets for cannabinoids, e.g., G-protein-coupled receptors (GPR55, GPR18, GPR3/GPR6/GPR12), transient receptor potential (TRPV) channels, and peroxisome proliferator-activated (PPAR) receptors. These cannabinoid receptors and molecular targets play essential roles for the effects of cannabinoids in health and disease. In addition, they are underscoring the mechanisms of actions for the potential therapeutic effects of a variety of cannabinoids. Recently, there have been tremendous advances in our understanding of these receptors and molecular targets, as well as their implications in the therapeutic potentials of cannabinoids.

The emphasis of this Topical Collection is on the recent advances in our knowledge of cannabinoid receptors, molecular targets, and signaling pathways in the context of physiological/pathological conditions, and cannabinoid therapeutic potentials. Review articles summarizing recent discoveries, and original research articles of both basic and clinical studies are welcome.

We look forward to your important contributions.

Dr. Zhao-Hui Song
Collection Editor

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