prostaglandin-e2-ethanolamide and nimesulide

Endocannabinoids are protective in animal colitis models. As endocannabinoids also form novel prostaglandin ethanolamides (prostamides) via COX-2, we investigated the effects of prostamides and other COX-2 mediators on tissue damage in an ex vivo human mucosal explant colitis model. Healthy human colonic mucosae were incubated with pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β to elicit colitis-like tissue damage. The PGF-ethanolamide analogue, bimatoprost decreased colitis scores which were reversed by a prostamide-specific antagonist AGN 211334, but not the FP receptor antagonist AL-8810. PGF-ethanolamide and PGE-ethanolamide also reduced cytokine-evoked epithelial damage. Anandamide was protective in the explant colitis model; however COX-2 inhibition did not alter its effects, associated with a lack of COX-2 induction in explant mucosal tissue. These findings support an anti-inflammatory role for prostamides and endocannabinoids in the human colon.

Topics: Adult; Amides; Arachidonic Acids; Bimatoprost; Cloprostenol; Colitis; Colon, Sigmoid; Cyclooxygenase 2; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Dinoprost; Dinoprostone; Endocannabinoids; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Interleukin-1beta; Male; Middle Aged; Oxazoles; Polyunsaturated Alkamides; Receptors, Prostaglandin; Sulfonamides; Tissue Culture Techniques; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Young Adult