Implications of dysregulated endogenous cannabinoid family members in the pathophysiology of endometriosis

Harshavardhan Lingegowda, Jessica E. Miller, Miller JE, McCallion A, Alison McCallion, Timothy Childs, Childs T, Lessey BA, Bruce A. Lessey, Madhuri Koti, Koti M, Chandrakant Tayade, Tayade C
F&S science · 2021 · vol. 2(4) , pp. 419–430 · doi:10.1016/j.xfss.2021.09.005 · PMID:35559864 · W3204829397
article OA: gold CC0 ⤵ 12 in-corpus citations
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This study found altered levels of palmitoylethanolamide and differential expression of cannabinoid 2 receptors in endometriosis lesions and plasma from patients and a mouse model.

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the involvement of the endocannabinoid (EC) family member in the pathophysiology of endometriosis (EMS). DESIGN: Mass spectrometry analysis of plasma and tissue samples from patients with EMS, controls, and a mouse model of EMS and messenger RNA and immunohistochemistry analysis of the samples from patients with EMS and controls. SETTING: Academic teaching hospital and university. PATIENT(S): Patients with EMS and healthy fertile control subjects. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Endocannabinoid analysis in patient plasma, EMS lesions, and healthy endometrial samples. RESULT(S): Circulating ECs were detected in the plasma samples, whereas no significant changes were observed in patients with EMS compared with healthy fertile controls. However, the palmitoylethanolamide levels were significantly higher in the EMS lesions than in the endometrium from patients with EMS. Similarly, genes involved in the EC signaling pathways were differentially expressed in the EMS lesions. Analysis of cannabinoid 1 and 2 receptors in the EMS lesions revealed a significantly lower cannabinoid 2 receptor expression, whereas no significant changes were observed in cannabinoid 1 receptor expression compared with those in the endometrium from both patients with EMS and healthy fertile controls. The palmitoylethanolamide levels were significantly elevated in plasma from EMS mice compared with that from sham controls and in EMS lesions compared with uterine samples. CONCLUSION(S): Together, we provide evidence toward dysregulation of members of the ECs in both patients with EMS and the mouse model of EMS. These findings will advance the knowledge of the role of ECs in EMS and their potential implications as therapeutic targets.

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Condition tags

endometriosis

MeSH descriptors

Cannabinoids Cannabinoids Cannabinoids Cannabinoids Cannabinoids Cannabinoids Cannabinoids Cannabinoids Cannabinoids Cannabinoids Cannabinoids Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis Endometriosis

Citation neighborhood

Papers in the corpus that this work cites (lower rings, blue) and that cite this one (upper rings, green). Dot size scales with the paper's in-corpus citation count — bigger dot = more influential within the endo/adeno field. Click a dot to open that paper. [ expand to 2 hops ] — adds papers reached through this work's immediate citers/citees. Heavier; up to 60 extra dots.

References (60)

Cited by (12)

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