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Physical activity and the endocannabinoid system: an overview

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Abstract

Recognized as a “disease modifier”, physical activity (PA) is increasingly viewed as a more holistic, cost-saving method for prevention, treatment and management of human disease conditions. The traditional view that PA engages the monoaminergic and endorphinergic systems has been challenged by the discovery of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), composed of endogenous lipids, their target receptors, and metabolic enzymes. Indeed, direct and indirect evidence suggests that the ECS might mediate some of the PA-triggered effects throughout the body. Moreover, it is now emerging that PA itself is able to modulate ECS in different ways. Against this background, in the present review we shall discuss evidence of the cross-talk between PA and the ECS, ranging from brain to peripheral districts and highlighting how ECS must be tightly regulated during PA, in order to maintain its beneficial effects on cognition, mood, and nociception, while avoiding impaired energy metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammatory processes.

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Acknowledgments

We apologize in advance to all investigators whose research could not be appropriately quoted due to space limitations. We wish to thank all colleagues who have contributed over the past 15 years to our studies of the endocannabinoid system and its impact on human health and disease. Financial support from Fondazione TERCAS (Grant n° 2009–2012), Ministero dell’Istruzione, dell’Università e della Ricerca (grant n° PRIN 2010–2011), Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla (FISM grant 2010), to M.M., and from Regione Lazio (grant n° 00011377/2010–2013) to M.T. is also gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, Foro Italico University of Rome, Piazza Lauro de Bosis 6, 00135, Rome, Italy

    Mirko Tantimonaco, Roberta Ceci & Stefania Sabatini

  2. Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Via Montpellier 1, 00133, Rome, Italy

    Maria Valeria Catani, Antonello Rossi & Valeria Gasperi

  3. Center of Integrated Research, Campus Bio-Medico University of Rome, Via Alvaro del Portillo 21, 00128, Rome, Italy

    Mauro Maccarrone

  4. European Center for Brain Research/Santa Lucia Foundation, Rome, Italy

    Mauro Maccarrone

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  1. Mirko Tantimonaco
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  2. Roberta Ceci
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  3. Stefania Sabatini
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  4. Maria Valeria Catani
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  5. Antonello Rossi
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  6. Valeria Gasperi
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  7. Mauro Maccarrone
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Correspondence to Valeria Gasperi or Mauro Maccarrone.

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V. Gasperi and M. Maccarrone are equally senior authors.

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Tantimonaco, M., Ceci, R., Sabatini, S. et al. Physical activity and the endocannabinoid system: an overview. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 71, 2681–2698 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-014-1575-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-014-1575-6

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