Heparin exerts anti-apoptotic effects on uterine explants by targeting the endocannabioid system.

SALAZAR ANA INES; VERCELLI C; SCHIARITI, V; DAVIO CARLOS; COREA FERNANDO; FRANCHI ANA MARIA

APOPTOSIS

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2016 vol. 21 p. 965 - 976

1360-8185

Abstract Miscarriage caused by Gram-negative bacteriainfecting the female genital tract is one of the most commoncomplications of human pregnancy. Intraperitonealadministration of LPS to 7-days pregnant mice inducesembryo resorption after 24 h. Here, we show that LPSinduced apoptosis on uterine explants from 7-days pregnantmice and that CB1 receptor was involved in this effect. Onthe other hand, heparin has been widely used for the preventionof pregnancy loss in women with frequent miscarriagewith or without thrombophilia. Besides itsanticoagulant properties, heparin exerts anti-inflammatory,immunomodulatory and anti-apoptotic effects. Here, wesought to investigate whether the administration of heparinprevented LPS-induced apoptosis in uterine explants from7-days pregnant mice. We found that heparin enhanced cellsurvival in LPS-treated uterine explants and that this effectwas mediated by increasing uterine FAAH activity. Takentogether, our results point towards a novel mechanisminvolved in the protective effects of heparin.