GPR18

2841110168ENSG00000125245ENSMUSG00000050350Q14330Q8K1Z6NM_001098200NM_005292NM_182806NP_001091670NP_005283NP_877958N-Arachidonyl glycine receptor (NAGly receptor), also known as G protein-coupled receptor 18 (GPR18), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GPR18 gene. Along with the other previously 'orphan' receptors GPR55 and GPR119, GPR18 has been found to be a receptor for endogenous lipid neurotransmitters, several of which also bind to cannabinoid receptors. N-Arachidonyl glycine receptor (NAGly receptor), also known as G protein-coupled receptor 18 (GPR18), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the GPR18 gene. Along with the other previously 'orphan' receptors GPR55 and GPR119, GPR18 has been found to be a receptor for endogenous lipid neurotransmitters, several of which also bind to cannabinoid receptors. Research supports the hypothesis that GPR18 is the abnormal cannabidiol receptor and N-arachidonoyl glycine, the endogenous lipid metabolite of anandamide, initiates directed microglial migration in the CNS through activation of GPR18, though recent evidence demonstrates that NAGly was not shown to be a GPR18 agonist in rat sympathetic neurons. Resolvin D2 (RvD2), a member of the specialized proresolving mediators (SPM) class of polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolites, is an activating ligand for GPR18; RvD2 and its activation of GPR18 contribute to the resolution of inflammatory responses as well as inflammation-based and other diseases in animal models and are proposed to do so in humans. Furthermore, RvD2 is a metabolite of the omega-3 fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA); the metabolism of DHA to RvD2 and RvD2's activation of GPR18 is proposed to one among many other mechanisms for the anti-inflammatory and other beneficial effects attributed to omega-3 fatty acid-rich diets Ligands found to bind to GPR18 as agonists include: