Fatty acid amide hydrolase: biochemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutic possibilities for an enzyme hydrolyzing anandamide, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, palmitoylethanolamide, and oleamide

Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is responsible for the hydrolysis of a nu mber of important endogenous fatty acid amides, including the endogenous ca nnabimimetic agent anandamide (AEA), the sleep-inducing compound oleamide, and the putative anti-inflammatory agent palmitoylethanolamide (PEA). In re cent years, there have been great advances in our understanding of the bioc hemical and pharmacological properties of the enzyme. In this commentary, t he structure and biochemical properties of FAAH and the development of pote nt and selective FAAH inhibitors are reviewed, together with a brief discus sion on the therapeutic possibilities for such compounds in the treatment o f inflammatory pain and ischaemic states. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. Al l rights reserved.