NICOTINE INHIBITS CYTOKINE SYNTHESIS BY MOUSE COLONIC MUCOSA

We examined the in vivo effect of nicotine on the synthesis of (pro-)i nflammatory mediators by mouse colonic mucosa. The synthesis of lipid mediators such as the prostanoids prostaglandin E(2), 6-keto-prostagla ndin F-1 alpha and thromboxane B-2, the 5-lipoxygenase products leukot riene 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 abol ished. The beneficial effects of smoking and nicotine in ulcerative co litis could be attributed to this inhibition.