The endogenous cannabinoid system in the gut of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.
Mucosal Immunol
; 4(5): 574-83, 2011 Sep.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21471961
ABSTRACT
Activation of cannabinoid receptors (CBs) by endocannabinoids impacts on a number of gastrointestinal functions. Recent data indicate that CB1 agonists improve 2,4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in mice, thus suggesting a role for the endocannabinoid agonist anandamide (AEA) in protecting the gut against inflammation. We here examined the gut endocannabinoid system in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, and investigated the ex vivo and in vitro effects of the non-hydrolysable AEA analog methanandamide (MAEA) on the mucosal proinflammatory response. The content of AEA, but not of 2-arachidonoyl-glycerol and N-palmitoylethanolamine, was significantly lower in inflamed than uninflamed IBD mucosa, and this was paralleled by lower activity of the AEA-synthesizing enzyme N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamine-specific phospholipase D and higher activity of the AEA-degrading enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase. MAEA significantly downregulated interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α secretion by both organ culture biopsies and lamina propria mononuclear cells. Although these results are promising, further studies are needed to determine the role of cannabinoid pathways in gut inflammation.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
/
Cannabinoid Receptor Modulators
/
Intestinal Mucosa
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Mucosal Immunol
Journal subject:
ALERGIA E IMUNOLOGIA
Year:
2011
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Italia