NICOTINE INHIBITS CYTOKINE SYNTHESIS BY MOUSE COLONIC MUCOSA

We examined the in vivo effect of nicotine on the synthesis of (pro-)inflammatory mediators by mouse colonic mucosa. The synthesis of lipid mediators such as the prostanoids prostaglandin E(2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F-1 alpha and thromboxane B-2, the 5-lipoxygenase products leukotriene B-4 and leukotriene C-4, and the platelet activating factor was not affected, whereas the synthesis of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha was completely abolished. The beneficial effects of smoking and nicotine in ulcerative colitis could be attributed to this inhibition.