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The cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2), is a G protein-coupled receptor from the cannabinoid receptor family that in humans is encoded by the CNR2 gene.[5][6] It is closely related to the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), which is largely responsible for the efficacy of endocannabinoid-mediated presynaptic-inhibition, the psychoactive properties of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active agent in cannabis, and other phytocannabinoids (plant cannabinoids).[5][7] The principal endogenous ligand for the CB2 receptor is 2-Arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).[6]
CB2 was cloned in 1993 by a research group from Cambridge looking for a second cannabinoid receptor that could explain the pharmacological properties of tetrahydrocannabinol.[5] The receptor was identified among cDNAs based on its similarity in amino-acid sequence to the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) receptor, discovered in 1990.[8] The discovery of this receptor helped provide a molecular explanation for the established effects of cannabinoids on the immune system.
- ^ a b c GRCh38: Ensembl release 89: ENSG00000188822 – Ensembl, May 2017
- ^ a b c GRCm38: Ensembl release 89: ENSMUSG00000062585 – Ensembl, May 2017
- ^ "Human PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- ^ "Mouse PubMed Reference:". National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- ^ a b c Munro S, Thomas KL, Abu-Shaar M (September 1993). "Molecular characterization of a peripheral receptor for cannabinoids". Nature. 365 (6441): 61–65. Bibcode:1993Natur.365...61M. doi:10.1038/365061a0. PMID 7689702. S2CID 4349125.
- ^ a b Basu S, Ray A, Dittel BN (December 2011). "Cannabinoid receptor 2 is critical for the homing and retention of marginal zone B lineage cells and for efficient T-independent immune responses". Journal of Immunology. 187 (11): 5720–5732. doi:10.4049/jimmunol.1102195. PMC 3226756. PMID 22048769.
- ^ "Entrez Gene: CNR2 cannabinoid receptor 2 (macrophage)".
- ^ Elphick MR, Egertová M (March 2001). "The neurobiology and evolution of cannabinoid signalling". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences. 356 (1407): 381–408. doi:10.1098/rstb.2000.0787. PMC 1088434. PMID 11316486.