Endocannabinoids in the Islets of Langerhans: the ugly, the bad, and the good facts.

Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab

Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, Maryland.

Published: August 2018

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Article Abstract

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) regulates cellular homeostasis and whole-body metabolism. There is an autonomous ECS in the endocrine pancreas, including the cannabinoid 1 receptor (CBR) that is present in β-cells. Here, we discuss conflicts that have arisen with regard to the function(s) of the ECs in the endocrine pancreas and that have caused confusion when defining the role of the ECS in islets of Langerhans, especially the role(s) of CBR in β-cells. We also discuss the latest data published concerning the ECS in islets. CBR in particular is not simply a negative modulator of insulin secretion as it is also involved in intra-islet inflammation during high fat-high sugar intake and it is a negative regulator of β-cell viability and turnover. We also discuss the feasibility of using CBR as a target for the treatment of diabetes.

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6139496PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00338.2017DOI Listing

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