The role of cervical endocannabinoid system in the modulation of lipopolysaccharide-induced proinflammatory response

Abstract

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is one of the numerous signaling pathways that have been involved in the pathophysiology of pregnancy. The endogenous ligands of cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2) are mainly anandamide (AEA), which is synthesized from the lipid membrane through N-Acyl-phosphatidyl-ethanolamide phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD), it’s activity regulated through degradation by the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). In our laboratory, we previously demonstrated the presence of the ECS in cervix in a murine model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced preterm birth. The cervix is a critical organ for pregnancy maintenance. Dynamic alterations in the structure of the cervical extracellular matrix drive exibility and mechanical strength on the cervix throughout pregnancy, labor and postpartum. Metalloproteases (MMPs) and cyclooxigenase 2 (COX-2) are involved on events associated with labor induction like cervix ripening. In a preterm labor model induced by LPS, we have observed that the immune challenge produced an increase of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity in the cervix.