Ultramicronized N-Palmitoylethanolamine Regulates Mast Cell-Astrocyte Crosstalk: A New Potential Mechanism Underlying the Inhibition of Morphine Tolerance

Toti A, Micheli L, Lucarini E, Ferrara V, Ciampi C, Margiotta F, Failli P, Gomiero C, Pallecchi M, Bartolucci G, Ghelardini C, Di Cesare Mannelli L. Biomolecules. 2023;13(2):233.

Laboratory studyOther animals

Design

Laboratory study

Subjects

Rat mast cell line (RBL-2H3) and rat astrocyte cultures

Dose used in the study

Ultramicronised PEA 100 micromolar for 18 hours before morphine 30 micromolar

Duration

Cell culture

What was measured

Mast cell degranulation and histamine release, and inflammatory and pain-related gene expression in astrocytes exposed to mast cell secretions.

What the authors reported

Morphine increased mast cell degranulation, which PEA pretreatment prevented. Secretions from PEA-treated mast cells produced less inflammatory gene expression in astrocytes, except GFAP, which rose further.

Limits of this study

Cell culture in rat cell lines. Proposes a mechanism for an animal finding (delayed opioid tolerance) that has not been tested in people. One author has a contract with Epitech.

Source

PubMed 36830602 · doi:10.3390/biom13020233

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.