Abstract
The burden of chronic pain has affected many individuals leading to distress and discomfort, alongside numerous side effects with conventional therapeutic approaches. Cannabinoid receptors are naturally found in the human body and have long been an interest in antinociception. These include CB1 and CB2 receptors, which are promising candidates for the treatment of chronic inflammatory pain. The mechanism of action of the receptors and how they approach pain control in inflammatory conditions show that it can be an adjunctive approach towards controlling these symptoms. Numerous studies have shown how the targeted approach towards these receptors has activated them promoting a release in cytokines, all leading to anti-inflammatory effects and immune system regulation. Cannabinoid activation of glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) models also showed efficacy in pain management. Chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis were shown to also benefit from this considerable treatment. However, it is unclear how the cannabinoid system works in relation with the pain pathway. Therefore, in this review we aim to analyse the role of the cannabinoid system in chronic inflammatory pain.
Highlights
BackgroundPain is the most sought out reason why Americans seek medical attention, and comprehensive literature has identified the relevance of the endocannabinoid pathway in controlling pain [1]
It is important to note that it is unknown if the effect of these receptors acts through the immune system or has a direct action on the pain pathway; we aim to explore the effect of cannabinoid receptors on inflammatory and chronic pain
Regarding osteoarthritis, a study determined that both the CB1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α were mediators in controlling pain [12]. This confirms that cannabinoid receptors affect and modulate inflammation through multiple pathways as an adjunctive aid in chronic inflammatory pain [3]
Summary
Pain is the most sought out reason why Americans seek medical attention, and comprehensive literature has identified the relevance of the endocannabinoid pathway in controlling pain [1]. Regarding osteoarthritis, a study determined that both the CB1 and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)α were mediators in controlling pain [12] This confirms that cannabinoid receptors affect and modulate inflammation through multiple pathways as an adjunctive aid in chronic inflammatory pain [3]. A study done on a CB2 agonist (AM1241) showed that actions at CB2 receptors are sufficient to suppress inflammation-evoked neuronal activity to normalize nociceptive threshold while producing adequate antinociception in inflammatory pain states [31] These promising results have been repetitively proving that inflammation and pain states can be solved with a targeted approach by the activation of the cannabinoid receptors, including cancer, spastic, neuropathic, acute, and chronic pain conditions (Table 1) [32]. The G protein-coupled receptors play an important role in regulating a variety of human functions, including pain
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