“The research of new therapeutic strategies for neuropathic pain represents a major current priority.
Important drawbacks to advance in the development of these therapies are the limited translational value of the animal models now available and the elucidation of the complex neuronal and immune pathophysiological mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain.
One of the neurotransmitter systems participating in neuropathic pain control that has recently raised a particular interest is the endocannabinoid system.
This system is highly expressed in neurons and immune cells, and it plays a crucial role in the development of neuropathic pain.
Preclinical studies have provided important findings, revealing the potential interest of the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of neuropathic pain.
These studies have reported the analgesic effects of cannabinoid agonists in multiple neuropathic pain models, and they have identified specific targets within this system to develop more effective and safe analgesic compounds.
Several clinical studies suggest that cannabinoids significantly reduced neuropathic pain…“