E-Letter responses to:

reports: Marja D. Van Sickle, Marnie Duncan, Philip J. Kingsley, Abdeslam Mouihate, Paolo Urbani, Ken Mackie, Nephi Stella, Alexandros Makriyannis, Daniele Piomelli, Joseph S. Davison, Lawrence J. Marnett, Vincenzo Di Marzo, Quentin J. Pittman, Kamala D. Patel, and Keith A. Sharkey Identification and Functional Characterization of Brainstem Cannabinoid CB2 Receptors Science 2005; 310: 329-332 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Published E-Letter responses:

Identification of peripheral cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system

Emmanuel S. Onaivi, Hiroki Ishiguro, Jian-Ping Gong, Patricia Tagliaferro, Qing-Rong Liu, George R. Uhl   (8 November 2005)

Identification of peripheral cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system 8 November 2005
Emmanuel S. Onaivi, Neuroscientist William Paterson University, Hiroki Ishiguro, Jian-Ping Gong, Patricia Tagliaferro, Qing-Rong Liu, George R. Uhl Respond to this E-Letter: Re: Identification of peripheral cannabinoid receptors in the central nervous system	The recent report by Van Sickle et al. on the identification and functional characterization of brainstem cannabinoid CB2 receptors in the brainstem (14 Oct. 2005, p. 329) is consistent, in part, with other recent reports of brain CB2 receptor expression. However, this report appears to understate the more widespread and multifocal functional CB2 distribution that we and others have reported. Cannabinoid CB2 receptors have been termed “peripheral,” since they were initially cloned from immune cells. Such observations have prompted investigators to seek and identify CB2 receptors in populations of immune -derived brain microglial cells. The report by Van Sickle et al. is an important contribution in understanding CB2 receptors in specific brainstem locations and documenting their possible functional significance. However, we are concerned that the focus on brainstem localizations and antiemetic functions may understate the importance of CB2 receptors in the other brain areas in which we and others have identified CB2 mRNA and protein.