Fatty acids, endocannabinoids and inflammation

What is it about?

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) was discovered in the ‘90s of last century and derived its name from the observation that THC, the compound from Cannabis that makes one ‘high’, acts on it via receptors called cannabinoid receptors type 1 and 2 (CB1 and CB2). The ECS is now known to play a very important role in the regulation of many functions in our body. Among these is the regulation of immune functions, including controlling inflammation. Although the ECS was originally regarded an ‘isolated’ signaling system it has become clear that it is actually closely inter intertwined with other systems in our body that uses lipids as signaling molecules

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Why is it important?

The fact that the ECS is more complex than originally thought, and so closely connected to other systems in our body, may in part explain why many attempts to modulate this with medicines have proven unsuccessful. At the same time, many options remain possible, via medicines but also via the diet. However, these should take into account the dynamic nature of the endocannabinoid. In other words: instead of a ‘one disease-one target-on drug’ approach we need ‘multiple-target’ strategies