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Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) Induces an Increase in Spleen Regulatory T Cells, Reduces CD8 + Cells and TNF-α Levels in Target Organs, and Protects Mice From Graft-Versus-Host Disease-Related Mortality Through PPAR Activation Without Compromising the Graft-Versus-Tumour Response

Bárbara Betônico Berg, Zara Desiree Tonidandel Campos, Gioconda Muniz Fiorenza Ruggio, Ana Flávia Santos Linhares, Bárbara Maximino Rezende, Stéfany Bruno de Assis Cau, Thiago Roberto Lima Romero, Mauro Martins Teixeira, Vanessa Pinho, Marina Gomes Miranda Castor. Immunology. 2025 Nov;176(3):385-402.

Laboratory studyOther animals

Design
Laboratory study
Subjects
Mice with graft-versus-host disease (bone marrow transplant model)
Dose used in the study
Not stated in the abstract
Duration
Not stated in the abstract
What was measured
Clinical GVHD severity and survival; spleen, intestine and liver immune cell populations (CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+); TNF-alpha and IL-10 levels; dependence on PPAR-gamma and cannabinoid receptors; graft-versus-tumour response.

What the authors reported

This lab study found:

  • PEA reduced GVHD severity and raised survival by 80%.
  • It reduced CD3+CD4+ cell activation in the spleen.
  • It reduced CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ cells and CD3+CD8+ activation and protected against damage in the intestine, while raising intestinal IL-10.
  • It reduced CD8+ cells, CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ activation and TNF-alpha in the liver.
  • The survival benefit depended on PPAR-gamma, not cannabinoid receptors, and PEA did not interfere with the graft-versus-tumour response.

Limits of this study

A mouse model of graft-versus-host disease; it cannot show effect in people undergoing bone marrow transplantation. The authors declare no competing interests.

Source

PubMed 40563231 · doi:10.1111/imm.70010

Entry checked against the abstract on PubMed on 2026-09-22. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.