Potential role of the cannabinoid receptor CB1 in the pathogenesis of erosive and non-erosive gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

Carlo Calabrese (1) , Enzo Spisni (2) , Giuseppina Liguori (3) , Giorgia Lazzarini (2, 3) , Maria Chiara Valerii (2, 3) , Antonio Strillacci (2) , Paolo Gionchetti (4) , Uberto Pagotto (3) , Massimo Campieri (3) , Fernando Rizzello (3)

1 Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology
2 Biology
3 Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology
4 Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology

Background: Cannabinoid (CB) receptors have been located in brain areas involved in the triggering of TLESRs as well as in the nodose ganglion from which vagal afferents emanate. The distribution of CB1 receptors has been investigated in the human gastrointestinal mucosa, as expression of inflammatory process. To date there are no studies that evaluated the CB1 expression in esophageal mucosa. Material and methods: 87 consecutive subjects were enrolled: 10 controls, 39 NERD and 38 erosive esophagitis. Eight specimens were taken from macroscopically normal mucosa. Five were processing by hematoxylin-eosin, MIB1/CB1 evaluation and 3 for the RNA and proteins extraction. Results: the mean MIB1-LI value was 31% and 22% in NERD and ERD patients respectively, compared to 68% in the healthy subjects. Mean CB1mRNA/GUSB mRNA value of the controls was 0.66 while in GERD patients was 0.28. In NERD and ERD, the mean of CB1/GUSB were 0.38 and 0.17, respectively, with highly significant differences between the NERD vs. ERD groups. Semi-quantitative analysis of CB1 expression, performed with WB, shows in NERD patients a higher CB1 receptor expression than ERD patients. Conclusions: with this study we showed for the first time the presence of CB1 receptors in the human esophageal epithelium.

Mots clés: Medicine

Carlo Calabrese, Enzo Spisni, Giuseppina Liguori, Giorgia Lazzarini, Maria Chiara Valerii, et al.. Potential role of the cannabinoid receptor CB1 in the pathogenesis of erosive and non-erosive gastro-esophageal reflux disease.. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2010, 32 (4), pp.603. ⟨10.1111/j.1365-2036.2010.04377.x⟩. ⟨hal-00552582⟩