Role of cannabinoid receptors in bone disorders: alternatives for treatment.

A number of recent preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential role of cannabinoids and their receptors in bone metabolism. Pharmacological and genetic modulation of cannabinoid receptors indicate that cannabinoid ligands may provide attractive and novel agents for the treatment of bone diseases. This article reviews the role of cannabinoid receptors in regulating bone mass, bone loss and bone cell function in health and disease. The article also provides support to the notion that cannabinoid receptor ligands show a great promise in the treatment of bone diseases associated with accelerated osteoclastic bone resorption including osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and bone metastasis.