Metabolism and physiological significance of anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol, endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligands

摘要: Arachidonic acid is known to be metabolized into a number of bioactive eicosanoids such as prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, lipoxins and mono-and dihydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids. It well that these are involved in diverse physiological pathophysiological processes mammalian tissues. In the last decade 20th century, two remarkable derivatives arachidonic acid, i.e., N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide) 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) (Fig. 1) were reported new members lipids. Anandamide 2-AG have unique structural characteristic they contain an intact arachidonoyl moiety their molecules, thus differing from other eicosanoids. Both anandamide been shown act endogenous cannabinoid receptor ligands. this review, we focused on described metabolism possible significance molecules tissues cells including inflammatory immune competent cells.