Perspective Chapter: Endocannabinoids in Renal Physiology - From Tissue Homeostasis to Precision Medicine

Body homeostasis is fully dependent on the different physiological systems working together in an orchestrated way. Different hormones, autacoids, and other bioactive molecules are known to play a role in the modulation of such events, either during a normal response to different stimuli or upon any harmful condition that will impact tissue or organ. The kidneys are very important for whole body homeostasis as they are responsible for the control of blood pressure, maintenance of the water compartments volume and composition, detoxification, reabsorption, pH regulation, and even some hormone production. Here we will discuss the ability of cannabinoids (phyto- or endocannabinoids) as modulators of renal physiology, which may open new perspectives for the development of new therapeutic drugs or the discovery of new patterns of endocannabinoids that may be explored as biomarkers for nephropathies or kidney repair toward precision medicine initiatives.