Abstract
Anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine, AEA) is a major endocannabinoid, shown to impair mouse pregnancy and embryo development and to induce apoptosis in blastocysts. Here, we review the roles of AEA, of the AEA-binding cannabinoid (CB) receptors, of the selective AEA membrane transporter (AMT), and of the AEA-hydrolyzing enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), in human gestation. In particular, we discuss the interplay between the endocannabinoid system and the hormone-cytokine array involved in the control of human pregnancy, showing that the endocannabinoids take part in the immunological adaptation occurring during early pregnancy. In this line, we discuss the critical role of FAAH in human peripheral lymphocytes, showing that the expression of this enzyme is regulated by progesterone, Th1 and Th2 cytokines, which also regulate fertility. Moreover, we show that AEA and the other endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, inhibit the release of the fertility-promoting cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor from human lymphocytes. Taken together, low FAAH and consistently high blood levels of AEA, but not CB receptors or AMT, can be early (
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 309-317 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids |
| Volume | 66 |
| Issue number | 2-3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2002 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Cite this
Endocannabinoids, hormone-cytokine networks and human fertility. / Maccarrone, M.; Falciglia, K.; Di Rienzo, M.; Finazzi-Agrò, A.
In: Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids, Vol. 66, No. 2-3, 2002, p. 309-317.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Endocannabinoids, hormone-cytokine networks and human fertility
AU - Maccarrone, M.
AU - Falciglia, K.
AU - Di Rienzo, M.
AU - Finazzi-Agrò, A.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine, AEA) is a major endocannabinoid, shown to impair mouse pregnancy and embryo development and to induce apoptosis in blastocysts. Here, we review the roles of AEA, of the AEA-binding cannabinoid (CB) receptors, of the selective AEA membrane transporter (AMT), and of the AEA-hydrolyzing enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), in human gestation. In particular, we discuss the interplay between the endocannabinoid system and the hormone-cytokine array involved in the control of human pregnancy, showing that the endocannabinoids take part in the immunological adaptation occurring during early pregnancy. In this line, we discuss the critical role of FAAH in human peripheral lymphocytes, showing that the expression of this enzyme is regulated by progesterone, Th1 and Th2 cytokines, which also regulate fertility. Moreover, we show that AEA and the other endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, inhibit the release of the fertility-promoting cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor from human lymphocytes. Taken together, low FAAH and consistently high blood levels of AEA, but not CB receptors or AMT, can be early (
AB - Anandamide (N-arachidonoylethanolamine, AEA) is a major endocannabinoid, shown to impair mouse pregnancy and embryo development and to induce apoptosis in blastocysts. Here, we review the roles of AEA, of the AEA-binding cannabinoid (CB) receptors, of the selective AEA membrane transporter (AMT), and of the AEA-hydrolyzing enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), in human gestation. In particular, we discuss the interplay between the endocannabinoid system and the hormone-cytokine array involved in the control of human pregnancy, showing that the endocannabinoids take part in the immunological adaptation occurring during early pregnancy. In this line, we discuss the critical role of FAAH in human peripheral lymphocytes, showing that the expression of this enzyme is regulated by progesterone, Th1 and Th2 cytokines, which also regulate fertility. Moreover, we show that AEA and the other endocannabinoid, 2-arachidonoylglycerol, inhibit the release of the fertility-promoting cytokine leukemia inhibitory factor from human lymphocytes. Taken together, low FAAH and consistently high blood levels of AEA, but not CB receptors or AMT, can be early (
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0036019416&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1054/plef.2001.0354
DO - 10.1054/plef.2001.0354
M3 - Article
C2 - 12052045
AN - SCOPUS:0036019416
VL - 66
SP - 309
EP - 317
JO - Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids
JF - Prostaglandins Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids
SN - 0952-3278
IS - 2-3
ER -