Functional profile of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists: exploring cannabinoid and noncannabinoid targets

Shivani Sachdev, Marina Santiago, Chris Bladen

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) are a large and growing class of new psychoactive substances. Unregulated consumption of SCRAs is increasingly being associated with severe toxicity and death. Strikingly, little is currently known about the mechanism by which SCRAs exert toxic effects, or whether their activity at both cannabinoid and noncannabinoid targets explain the range of physiological effects produced by these drugs. This chapter will summarize the current paradigm of SCRA signaling across a range of G-protein-coupled receptors, and the possibility of SCRA-related toxic effects emerging through noncannabinoid receptor mechanisms will be discussed. However, a great deal of research is required to determine whether these molecular effects also contribute to SCRA toxicity in humans.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCannabis use, neurobiology, psychology, and treatment
EditorsColin R. Martin, Vinood B. Patel, Victor R. Preedy
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
PublisherElsevier
Chapter28
Pages383-393
Number of pages11
ISBN (Electronic)9780323898621
ISBN (Print)9780323901406
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2023

Keywords

  • Cannabinoid receptor
  • G-protein-coupled receptor
  • Pharmacology
  • Signaling
  • Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist
  • THC
  • Toxicity

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