Elevated Levels of Endocannabinoids in Chronic Hepatitis C May Modulate Cellular Immune Response and Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 7057 - 7076
• Main Authors: Patsenker, Eleonora, Sachse, Philip, Chicca, Andrea, Gachet, María, Schneider, Vreni, Mattsson, Johan, Lanz, Christian, Worni, Mathias, De Gottardi, Andrea, Semmo, Mariam, Hampe, Jochen, Schafmayer, Clemens, Brenneisen, Rudolf, Gertsch, Jürg, Stickel, Felix, Semmo, Nasser
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 27.03.2015; MDPI
• Subjects: Adult; Amidohydrolases - metabolism; Arachidonic Acids - blood; Arachidonic Acids - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; Cellular biology; Cytokines - metabolism; Endocannabinoids - blood; Endocannabinoids - metabolism; Female; Glycerides - blood; Glycerides - metabolism; Hepatic Stellate Cells - metabolism; Hepatic Stellate Cells - pathology; Hepatitis; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatitis C, Chronic - enzymology; Hepatitis C, Chronic - immunology; Hepatitis C, Chronic - pathology; Humans; Immune system; Immunity, Cellular; Liver; Male; Marijuana; Middle Aged; Monoacylglycerol Lipases - metabolism; Polyunsaturated Alkamides - blood; Polyunsaturated Alkamides - metabolism

The endocannabinoid (EC) system is implicated in many chronic liver diseases, including hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection. Cannabis consumption is associated with fibrosis progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), however, the role of ECs in the development of CHC has never been explor...