Papers of the Week

The two subtypes of cannabinoid receptors (CBR), namely CBR and CBR, belong to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily and are confirmed as potential therapeutic targets for a variety of diseases such as inflammation, neuropathic pain, and immune-related disorders. Since CBR is mainly distributed in the central nervous system (CNS), it could produce severe psychiatric adverse reactions and addiction. In contrast, CBR are predominantly distributed in the peripheral immune system with minimal CNS-related side effects. Therefore, more attention has been devoted to the discovery of CBR ligands. In view of the favorable profile of CBR, many high-binding affinity and selectivity CBR ligands have been developed recently. This paper reviews recent research progress on CBR ligands, including endogenous CBR ligands, natural compounds, and novel small molecules, in order to provide a reference for subsequent CBR ligand development.