合成大麻素是在实验室中制造的化合物，其结构和功能模仿大麻植物中的植物大麻素，包括 delta-9-四氢大麻酚 (THC)。合成大麻素（SC）可以通过经典的内源性大麻素系统（ECS）和更大的内源性大麻素网络发出信号，突出了其信号传导的复杂性和深远的影响。屈大麻酚和大麻隆模仿 THC 信号传导，已被美国食品和药物管理局 (FDA) 批准用于治疗与癌症化疗和/或获得性免疫缺陷综合征 (AIDS) 相关的恶心。然而，人们对这两种药物作为各种其他临床病症的潜在镇痛药一直感兴趣，包括神经性疼痛、痉挛相关疼痛和伤害性疼痛综合征，包括纤维肌痛、骨关节炎和术后疼痛等。在这篇综述中，我们重点介绍 FDA 批准的合成大麻素的信号传导机制，讨论研究其镇痛潜力的关键临床试验，并说明将合成大麻素引入临床时面临的挑战。© 2024。作者，拥有独家许可施普林格自然瑞士股份公司。

Synthetic cannabinoids are compounds made in the laboratory to structurally and functionally mimic phytocannabinoids from the Cannabis sativa L. plant, including delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) can signal via the classical endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS) and the greater endocannabidiome network, highlighting their signalling complexity and far-reaching effects. Dronabinol and nabilone, which mimic THC signalling, have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating nausea associated with cancer chemotherapy and/or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). However, there is ongoing interest in these two drugs as potential analgesics for a variety of other clinical conditions, including neuropathic pain, spasticity-related pain, and nociplastic pain syndromes including fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and postoperative pain, among others. In this review, we highlight the signalling mechanisms of FDA-approved synthetic cannabinoids, discuss key clinical trials that investigate their analgesic potential, and illustrate challenges faced when bringing synthetic cannabinoids to the clinic.© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.