Figure 3.

Schematic hypothetical CB2R signaling effects on microglial phenotype. Microglia are activated under neuropathological conditions, in which neuroinflammatory genes are mainly induced while neuroprotective genes are also regulated. Under chronic conditions, the predominantly inflammatory activated microglia often cause neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration. When CB2R, which is abundantly expressed in microglia, is activated, its downstream signaling modulates the balance of gene regulation toward the neuroprotective function. In addition, homeostatic genes, which are associated with communication with neurons and synaptic activity, are also up-regulated to return the cell to physiological conditions.