Cannabinoids and Neuro-Inflammation: Regulation of Brain Immune Response

Cannabinoid receptors are involved in neurophatogenic mechanisms of inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system and their expression can be modulated during the disease. Brain inflammatory processes are characterized by infiltration of numerous types of cells, peripheral immune cells, brain resident immune cells, the microglial cells and numerous other neuronal cells. The disruption of the blood brain barrier favours cell infiltration in the central nervous system with consequent neuronal damage, common event in many neuro-inflammatory diseases. In this review we evidence the role of cannabinoid receptor, their expression at peripheral and central levels in order to better understand their implication in neuro-inflammation. Cannabinoids affect brain adaptive and immune response, have regulatory action on inflammatory mediators and can exert a role in blood brain barrier damage prevention. Furthermore, in numerous neurodegenerative diseases with inflammatory component the beneficial effects of cannabinoids have been widely reported, so current knowledge of cannabinoid involvement in these central nervous system disorders are also reviewed.