[Immunosuppressive characteristics of N-stearoylethanolamine a stable compound with cannabimimetic activity]

Results of investigation of biochemical mechanisms of N-stearoylethanolamine (NSE) influence on the processes of allergic responses of immediate and delayed type (anaphylactic shock in guinea pigs and contact hypersensitivity to 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene in mice) are presented in the paper. NSE was given per os during two weeks. It was found that in anaphylactic animals, NSE prevented the growth of histamine levels in the heart, kidneys and spleen, suppressed NO2(-) level increase in these organs and promoted its normalization. At the same time NSE prevented the decrease of the level of stable metabolite of nitrogen oxide - nitrite-anion (NO2(-)) in the liver and to a lesser degree in the lungs, and also decreased the activity both inducible and constitutive NO-synthases. NSE normalized the content of TBA-reactive products in the lungs and decreased it in the heart, diminished the decline of activity of glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Effects of NSE depended on its daily dose. About 70% of animals which received NSE in a dose 65 mg/kg of body weight had no fatal outcome after the induction of anaphylactic shock. NSE suppressed the delayed type hypersensitivity response and normalized NO2(-) content in the blood plasma of mice but only at the dose of 50 mg/kg of weight. In the thymus of sensitized mice NSE diminished the content of NO2(-). Thus, though NSE has no affinity for specific CB receptors, in other words, it is not a typical endocannabinoid, its ability to influence the immediate and delayed type allergic reactions opens a perspective for creation of new medications which differ principally from existing pharmacological drugs with anti-allergic and immunosuppressive properties.