Cannabinoids and the immune system: An overview

Tanasescu, Radu; Constantinescu, Cris S.

doi:10.1016/j.imbio.2009.12.005

Cited by 203 publications

(144 citation statements)

References 161 publications

(211 reference statements)

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“…8 There is increasing evidence that the endocannabinoid system plays an autoprotective role in immunologically mediated disorders. 15,16 Nevertheless, most of the studies on this topic were conducted in animal models, and the way the endocannabinoid system exerts its protective activity in humans awaits further elucidation. We here detected AEA, 2-AG, and PEA levels in gut mucosa of IBD patients, and we found that AEA, but not 2-AG and PEA levels, are significantly reduced in inflamed compared with uninflamed areas, both in ulcerative colitis and Crohn ' s disease.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The medium was then removed, and the cells were washed five times with HL-1 serum-free medium (Cambrex Bio Science, Nottingham, UK) supplemented with antibiotics, and then replaced with 1.5 ml HL-1 medium with 0.1 % dimethylsulfoxide (Sigma-Aldrich) or MAEA 0.1 m . Photographs of the cells in each grid along the induced wound were taken at 0, 4,8,12,16,20, and 24 h, using a digital camera (Olympus Camedia 34 -40 zoom, × 20 magnification) attached to a light microscope. The computer program " Image J " was used to measure the area of initial damage (images taken at time 0) and of the remaining damage at subsequent time points.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The endogenous cannabinoid system in the gut of patients with inflammatory bowel disease

et al. 2011

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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.[...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The endogenous cannabinoid system in the gut of patients with inflammatory bowel disease

et al. 2011

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“…In vitro and ex vivo, both exo-and endocanabinnoids were shown to modulate cytokine and immunoglobulin production and/or release, antigen presentation, cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, phagocytosis, and cytotoxic activity. In most cases, cannabinoid effects seemed immunosuppressive, but stimulatory actions were also described (for review, see Tanasescu and Constantinescu, 2010). In vivo, exogenous cannabinoids produced anti-inflammatory actions (for review, see Anand et al, 2009;Tanasescu and Constantinescu, 2010).…”

Section: Stein and Machelskamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In most cases, cannabinoid effects seemed immunosuppressive, but stimulatory actions were also described (for review, see Tanasescu and Constantinescu, 2010). In vivo, exogenous cannabinoids produced anti-inflammatory actions (for review, see Anand et al, 2009;Tanasescu and Constantinescu, 2010). A possible relevance of such effects to pain was suggested in a study using palmitoylethanolamide, a fatty acid amide with cannabinomimetic properties.…”

Section: Stein and Machelskamentioning

confidence: 99%

Modulation of Peripheral Sensory Neurons by the Immune System: Implications for Pain Therapy

2011

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“…Neuroendocrine and neurochemical processes with an influence on behavior, mood, and memory (Campolongo et al, 2009;Atsak et al, 2012) are affected as well as immune (Tanasescu and Constantinescu, 2010) or vegetative functions such as gastrointestinal motility or myocardial contractility (Weis et al, 2010b). Those processes and control functions are transmitted by signaling pathways such as the HPA axis and the sympathetic nervous system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of parabolic flight and spaceflight on the endocannabinoid system in humans

Strewe

Feuerecker

Ничипорук

et al. 2012

Reviews in the Neurosciences

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Abstract:The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays an important role in the regulation of physiological functions, from stress and memory regulation to vegetative control and immunity. The ECS is considered a central and peripheral stress response system to emotional or physical challenges and acts through endocannabinoids (ECs), which bind to their receptors inducing subsequent effecting mechanisms. In our studies, the ECS responses have been assessed through blood concentrations of the ECs anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. In parallel, saliva cortisol was determined and the degree of perceived stress was quantified by questionnaires. This report summarizes the reactivity of the ECS in humans subjected to brief periods of kinetic stress and weightlessness during parabolic flights and to prolonged stress exposure during life onboard the International Space Station (ISS). Both conditions resulted in a significant increase in circulating ECs. Under the acute stress during parabolic flights, individuals who showed no evidence of motion sickness were in low-stress conditions and had a significant increase of plasma ECs. In contrast, highly stressed individuals with severe motion sickness had an absent EC response and a massive increase in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. Likewise, chronic but well-tolerated exposure to weightlessness and emotional and environmental stressors on the ISS for 6 months resulted in a sustained increase in EC blood concentrations, which returned to baseline values after the cosmonauts ' return. These preliminary results suggest that complex environmental stressors result in an increase of circulating ECs and that enhanced EC signaling is probably required for adaptation and tolerance under stressful conditions.

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Cannabinoids and the immune system: An overview

Cited by 203 publications

References 161 publications

The endogenous cannabinoid system in the gut of patients with inflammatory bowel disease

The endogenous cannabinoid system in the gut of patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Modulation of Peripheral Sensory Neurons by the Immune System: Implications for Pain Therapy

Effects of parabolic flight and spaceflight on the endocannabinoid system in humans

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