Cannabis
link to relieving intestinal inflammation explained
University of
Massachusetts Medical School
Reports from cannabis
users that the drug reduces the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
may finally be explained by new research from the University of Massachusetts
Medical School and the University of Bath showing that endocannabinoids help
control and prevent intestinal inflammation in mice.
This is the first-time
scientists have reported a biological mechanism to explain why some marijuana
users have reported beneficial effects from cannabis on intestine inflammation
conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Researchers hope that their findings will lead to the development of drugs and treatments for gut disorders, which affect millions of people around the world and are caused when the body's immune defenses mistakenly attack the lining of the intestine.
Researchers hope that their findings will lead to the development of drugs and treatments for gut disorders, which affect millions of people around the world and are caused when the body's immune defenses mistakenly attack the lining of the intestine.
The findings appear in
the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
"There's been a lot of anecdotal evidence about the benefits of medical marijuana, but there hasn't been a lot of science to back it up," said Beth A. McCormick, PhD, vice chair and professor of microbiology & physiological systems at UMass Medical School.
"For the first time, we have an understanding of the molecules involved in the process and how endocannabinoids and cannabinoids control inflammation. This gives clinical researchers a new drug target to explore to treat patients that suffer from inflammatory bowel diseases, and perhaps other diseases, as well."
The researchers
discovered that gut inflammation is regulated by two important processes, which
are constantly in flux and responding to changing conditions in the intestinal
environment.
The first process, identified in previous scientific research, promotes an aggressive immune response in the gut that destroys dangerous pathogens, but which can also damage the lining of the intestine when immune cells attack indiscriminately.
The first process, identified in previous scientific research, promotes an aggressive immune response in the gut that destroys dangerous pathogens, but which can also damage the lining of the intestine when immune cells attack indiscriminately.
The second pathway, first
described in this paper, turns off the inflammation response via special
molecules transported across the epithelial cells lining the gut by the same
process already known to remove toxins from these cells into the intestine
cavity.
Crucially, this response requires a naturally-produced molecule called an endocannabinoid, which is very similar to cannabinoid molecules found in cannabis.
Crucially, this response requires a naturally-produced molecule called an endocannabinoid, which is very similar to cannabinoid molecules found in cannabis.
If the endocannabinoid
isn't present, inflammation isn't kept in balance and it can run unchecked, as
the body's immune cells attack the intestinal lining.
McCormick and
colleagues believe that because cannabis use introduces cannabinoids into the
body, these molecules could help relieve gut inflammation, as the naturally
produced endocannabinoids normally would.
"We need to be
clear that while this is a plausible explanation for why marijuana users have
reported cannabis relieves symptoms of IBD, we have thus far only evaluated
this in mice and have not proven this experimentally in humans. We hope,
however, that these findings will help us develop new ways to treat bowel
diseases in humans" said professor Randy Mrsny from the University of Bath
Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology.