Cited by 694Cannabis and Cannabinoid ResearchAdipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic DiseasesRegulation of Appetite and Obesity

Activation of the peripheral endocannabinoid system in human obesity

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Engeli, Stefan, Böhnke, Jana, Feldpausch, Mareike, Gorzelniak, Kerstin, Janke, Jürgen, Bátkai, Sándor, Pacher, Pál, Harvey-White, Judy +3 more·2005·Diabetes

Abstract

Obesity is the main risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes. Activation of the central endocannabinoid system increases food intake and promotes weight gain. Blockade of the cannabinoid type 1 (CB-1) receptor reduces body weight in animals by central and peripheral actions; the role of the peripheral endocannabinoid system in human obesity is now being extensively investigated. We measured circulating endocannabinoid concentrations and studied the expression of CB-1 and the main degrading enzyme, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), in adipose tissue of lean (n = 20) and obese (n = 20) women and after a 5% weight loss in a second group of women (n = 17). Circulating levels of anandamide and 1/2-arachidonoylglycerol were increased by 35 and 52% in obese compared with lean women (P < 0.05). Adipose tissue mRNA levels were reduced by -34% for CB-1 and -59% for FAAH in obese subjects (P < 0.05). A strong negative correlation was found between FAAH expression in adipose tissue and circulating endocannabinoids. Circulating endocannabinoids and CB-1 or FAAH expression were not affected by 5% weight loss. The expression of CB-1 and FAAH was increased in mature human adipocytes compared with in preadipocytes and was found in several human tissues. Our findings support the presence of a peripheral endocannabinoid system that is upregulated in human obesity.

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Crossref · 10.2337/diabetes.54.10.2838

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Authors
Engeli, S., Böhnke, J., Feldpausch, M., Gorzelniak, K., Janke, J., Bátkai, S., Pacher, P., Harvey-White, J., Luft, F. C., Sharma, A. M., & Jordan, J.
Affiliations
  • Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch (DE)
  • Franz Volhard Clinical Research Center, Charité Campus Buch, and HELIOS Klinikum Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • Laboratory of Physiologic Studies, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
  • McMaster University (CA)
Venue
Diabetes
Published
2005-10-01
Volume
54
Issue
10
Pages
2838-2843
ISSN
  • 0012-1797 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-327X
OpenAlex
W2162112945
Cited by
686
References
37
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 29 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 29 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 33
FWCI
38.06
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Diabetes (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • MDC Repository (Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Sanofi
  • Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (Z01AA000375)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
Keywords
obesity, cannabinoid type 1 receptor, fatty acid amide hydrolase, anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, adipose tissue, weight loss, human adipocytes, type 2 diabetes risk
MeSH terms
Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolases, Adipose Tissue, Amidohydrolases, Arachidonic Acids, Body Composition, Female, Glycerides, Humans, Middle Aged, Obesity, RNA, Messenger, Weight Loss, Gene Expression, Body Mass Index, Linear Models, Postmenopause, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1, Polyunsaturated Alkamides, Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators, Endocannabinoids

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