Dermatológia pre prax 1/2013

Endocannabinoid system of the skin – novel findings and perspective therapeutic opportunities

The newly discovered endocannabinoid mediators, their receptors and biosynthetic and metabolizing pathways form the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which has been implicated in various biological processes both in health and disease. Recent studies have suggested the existence of a functional ECS in the skin and its regulatory role in proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes, sebum production, hair growth, cytokine and chemokine production and cutaneous sensory functions. There is accumulated evidence demonstrating that disruption of this fine regulation might play role in the pathogenesis of various skin diseases, such as acne, seborrhoea, xerosis, psoriasis or alopecia, making the ECS an attractive target for therapeutic intervention.

Keywords: endocannabinoid system, skin diseases, therapy