Molecular Advances in Endocannabinoid Research
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 129
Special Issue Editor
Interests: bilateral common carotid artery occlusion; cerebral cortex; lipoperoxides; endocannabinoid system; ppar-α; resveratrol; synaptic proteins
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a highly conserved lipid signaling network that plays a central role in maintaining physiological homeostasis. Over the past decades, significant advances have expanded our understanding of its molecular architecture, including cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2, and emerging non-canonical targets); endogenous ligands such as anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol; and the enzymes responsible for their synthesis and degradation.
Recent research has revealed complex interactions between the ECS and other lipid mediator systems, highlighting its involvement in neuroinflammation, metabolic regulation, immune responses, and neurodegenerative disorders. In particular, increasing attention has been devoted to the role of the ECS as a key interface between nutrition and metabolism. Dietary fatty acids are now recognized as critical modulators of endocannabinoid tone, influencing the biosynthesis of bioactive lipids that regulate energy balance, feeding behavior, lipid metabolism, and systemic inflammation.
Moreover, growing evidence supports the existence of an expanded “endocannabinoidome,” encompassing structurally related lipid mediators and additional receptor targets that broaden the functional landscape of cannabinoid signaling. This expanded network plays a pivotal role in metabolic homeostasis by integrating signals derived from nutrient availability with pathways controlling energy expenditure, adipose tissue function, insulin sensitivity, and mitochondrial activity.
This Special Issue aims to gather original research articles and comprehensive reviews focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying endocannabinoid signaling in physiological and pathological conditions. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: novel biosynthetic and degradative pathways of endocannabinoids; receptor pharmacology and biased signaling; ECS modulation in neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation; interactions between endocannabinoids and dietary lipids; lipidomics and analytical advances; and the therapeutic potential of targeting the ECS in chronic diseases.
By integrating molecular, biochemical, nutritional and translational approaches, this Special Issue will provide an updated and comprehensive overview of the latest advances in endocannabinoid research, fostering new insights into its role at the intersection of diet, metabolism, and disease, and its emerging therapeutic potential.
Dr. Elisabetta Murru
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- endocannabinoid system
- N-acylethanolamine (NAE)
- CB1 and CB2 receptors
- lipid mediators
- nutrition
- dietary fatty acids
- energy metabolism
- metabolic homeostasis
- neuroinflammation
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