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 E2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1α and thromboxane B2, the 5-lipoxygenase products leukotriene B4 and leukotriene C4 and the platelet activating factor was not affected, whereas the synthesis of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 β and tumor necrosis factor α was completely abolished. The beneficial effects of smoking and nicotine in ulcerative colitis could be attributed to this inhibition.

, ,
doi.org/10.1016/0014-2999(95)00211-3, hdl.handle.net/1765/72037
European Journal of Pharmacology
Department of Pharmacology

van Dijk, J. P. M., Madretsma, G., Keuskamp, D. H. G., & Zijlstra, F. (1995). Nicotine inhibits cytokine synthesis by mouse colonic mucosa. European Journal of Pharmacology, 278(1). doi:10.1016/0014-2999(95)00211-3