Cannabinoids and mitochondria

Cannabis psychoactive and medicinal properties have been known for thousands of years, but it is only recently that we started to understand the cellular mechanisms triggered by phytocannabinoids, such as Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol. The discovery of the endocannabinoid system, which includes cannabinoid receptors and cannabinoids produced endogenously in animal cells, allowed a better understanding of the impact of these phytocannabinoids on human health. Early findings suggested that these molecules disrupt mitochondrial functions via direct binding to the organelle membranes and subsequent alterations of their structure and functions. The multiple tools generated after the discovery of the cannabinoid receptors in the early 1990s allowed to show that specific cannabinoids can also modulate mitochondrial activity via activation of cannabinoid receptors localized at the plasma membrane or directly within mitochondrial membranes. Considering that mitochondria are involved in the onset and progression of various diseases, it appears crucial to better understand the mechanisms linking cannabinoids and mitochondria. The aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the multiple mechanisms triggered by cannabinoids that affects mitochondria.