Open AccessSelective CB2 up‐regulation in women affected by endometrial inflammation
Author(s) -
Iuvone Teresa,
De Filippis Daniele,
Di Spiezio Sardo Attilio,
D'Amico Alessandra,
Simonetti Sara,
Sparice Stefania,
Esposito Giuseppe,
Bifulco Giuseppe,
Insabato Luigi,
Nappi Carmine,
Guida Maurizio
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of cellular and molecular medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.44
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1582-4934
pISSN - 1582-1838
DOI - 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2007.00085.x
Subject(s) - inflammation , nitric oxide , endometritis , cannabinoid receptor , receptor , endocrinology , degranulation , medicine , immunology , biology , pregnancy , genetics , agonist
Endometritis is defined as an inflammation of the endometrial mucosa of the uterus. In endometritis large amounts of toxic mediators, including nitric oxide (NO) are released by inflammatory cells. As a consequence of nitric oxide‐dependent injury, the cells respond by triggering protective mechanisms, by changing the endo‐cannabinoid system (ECS) which comprises both CB 1 and CB 2 cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands. The aim of our study was to seek out evidence for the presence of cannabinoid receptors in inflammatory endometrial tissue as well as for their potential role in endometrial inflammation. Our results showed a selective up‐regulation of both transcription and expression of CB 2 receptors in biopsies from women affected by endometrial inflammation compared to healthy women. The experiments with the nitric oxide‐donor S‐Nitroso‐L‐Glutathione (GSNO) suggest that such a selective up‐regulation may be related to the nitric oxide release occurring during endometrial inflammation. In addition, we demonstrated an increase in chymase expression, a marker of mast cells, in biopsies of women affected by endometritis. Therefore our results support the hypothesis that the up‐regulation of CB 2 occurs mainly on mast cells and that it might tend to sensitize these cells to the anti‐inflammatory effect exerted by endogenous cannabinoids by binding their receptor and thus preventing the mast cell degranulation and the release of pro‐inflammatory mediators. In conclusion, we believe that the selective CB 2 up‐regulation might play a role as a novel prognostic factor in endometrial inflammation.