The role of cannabinoid-mediated signaling pathways and mechanisms in brain disorders

Cannabinoids play significant roles in the central nervous system (CNS), but cannabinoid-mediated physiopathological functions are not elaborated. Cannabinoid receptors (CBRs) mediate functions that include the regulation of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and neurogenesis. Microglia are the primary immune cells responsible for mediating neuroinflammation in the CNS. Therefore, this article primarily focuses on microglia to summarize the inflammatory pathways mediated by cannabinoids in the CNS, including nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase B (Akt), and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) signaling pathways. Additionally, we provide a table summarizing the role of cannabinoids in various brain diseases. Medical use of cannabinoids has protective effects in preventing and treating brain diseases; however, excessive and repeated use can be detrimental to the CNS. We propose that cannabinoids hold significant potential for preventing and treating brain diseases, including ferroptosis, lactate metabolism, and mitophagy, providing new insights for further research on cannabinoids.