Article
Immunology
Fernando A. Vicentini, Jake C. Szamosi, Laura Rossi, Lateece Griffin, Kristoff Nieves, Dominique Bihan, Ian A. Lewis, Quentin J. Pittman, Mark G. Swain, Michael G. Surette, Simon A. Hirota, Keith A. Sharkey
Summary: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are associated with cognitive and emotional comorbidities. This study found that alterations in the gut microbiota, which are influenced by intestinal inflammation, may contribute to the development of behavioral abnormalities in colitis.
BRAIN BEHAVIOR AND IMMUNITY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Bradley G. Goodyear, Faranak Heidari, Richard J. M. Ingram, Filomeno Cortese, Nastaran Sharifi, Gilaad G. Kaplan, Christopher Ma, Remo Panaccione, Keith A. Sharkey, Mark G. Swain
Summary: Magnetic resonance imaging revealed structural and functional changes within the brains of inflammatory bowel disease patients, in regions known to be involved in processing brain signals associated with behavioral symptoms, anxiety, pain, stress, and cognitive deficits.
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Nina L. Cluny, Kewir D. Nyuyki, Wagdi Almishri, Lateece Griffin, Benjamin H. Lee, Simon A. Hirota, Quentin J. Pittman, Mark G. Swain, Keith A. Sharkey
Summary: In experimental colitis, monocytes expressing α4β7 integrin direct the recruitment of neutrophils to cerebral vasculature, leading to elevated cytokine levels and subsequently anxiety-like behavior.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Hailey Cuddihey, Jean-Baptiste Cavin, Catherine M. Keenan, Laurie E. Wallace, Kiran Vemuri, Alexandros Makriyannis, Wallace K. MacNaughton, Keith A. Sharkey
Summary: The endocannabinoid system of the gastrointestinal tract regulates intestinal barrier function through the expression of CB1 receptors on the intestinal epithelium. Activation of CB1 receptors restores barrier function in mice fed a high-fat diet.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-GASTROINTESTINAL AND LIVER PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Jaideep S. Bains, Keith A. Sharkey
Summary: Specific brain circuits activated by stress influence immune responses and determine how the immune system deals with viral and autoimmune challenges.
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Hailey Cuddihey, Wallace K. MacNaughton, Keith A. Sharkey
Summary: This review illustrates the role of the endocannabinoid system in regulating intestinal homeostasis, including the regulation of intestinal permeability, fluid secretion, and immune regulation. It also emphasizes the reciprocal regulation between the endocannabinoid system and the gut microbiome.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Christopher N. Andrews, Renata Rehak, Matthew Woo, Ian Walker, Christopher Ma, Nauzer Forbes, Katherine Rittenbach, Joshua Hathaway, Lynn Wilsack, Andy Liu, Yasmin Nasser, Keith A. Sharkey
Summary: This study aims to characterize patients with CHS in North America and estimate the population-based prevalence of CHS treatment in Canada. The findings suggest that almost all CHS patients have a cannabis use disorder, and the treatment prevalence has significantly increased over a short period, with the highest rates observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Stuart M. Brierley, Beverley Greenwood-Van Meerveld, Giovanni Sarnelli, Keith A. Sharkey, Martin Storr, Jan Tack
Summary: This review provides an overview of the potential of the gastrointestinal endocannabinoid system as a therapeutic target for the management of pain in irritable bowel syndrome. It discusses the role of endocannabinoid system in regulating gastrointestinal function and pain processing, compares cannabinoids to other treatment modalities, and explores emerging therapeutic candidates targeting the endocannabinoid system for pain relief in irritable bowel syndrome.
NATURE REVIEWS GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Crystal Woods, Amanda R. Flockton, Laurie E. Wallace, Catherine M. Keenan, Wendy B. Macklin, Keith A. Sharkey, Jaime Belkind-Gerson
Summary: Proteolipid protein 1 (Plp1) is highly expressed in enteric glia and plays a regulatory role in gut motility and barrier function, possibly through the Erk1/2 pathway. The absence of myelin in the enteric nervous system suggests another role for Plp1 in the gut.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-GASTROINTESTINAL AND LIVER PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Physiology
Keith A. Sharkey, Gary M. Mawe
Summary: The gastrointestinal tract is the most complex organ system in the body, controlling digestion and defense functions through the enteric nervous system. This system interacts with the immune system, gut microbiota, and epithelium to maintain mucosal defense and barrier function. Recent developments have improved our understanding of the molecular architecture, function, and regulation of the enteric nervous system, highlighting its importance in maintaining intestinal homeostasis.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Chelsea E. Matisz, Nadia Semenoff, Al-Shaimaa F. Ahmed, Lateece Griffin, Laurie E. Wallace, Parker McNabb, Robbin Gibb, Keith A. Sharkey, Aaron J. Gruber
Summary: Gut inflammation affects neural activity and leads to changes in fear-related neural circuits. Acute colitis does not affect overall dendritic spine density in the hippocampus, but increases the proportion of immature spines. In the basolateral amygdala, there are no changes in spine density or composition. The density of cFos immunoreactive neurons is not affected in the basolateral amygdala, but is decreased in CA1 region of the hippocampus in mice with colitis.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Jean-Baptiste Cavin, Preedajit Wongkrasant, Joel B. Glover, Onesmo B. Balemba, Wallace K. MacNaughton, Keith A. Sharkey
Summary: The enteric nervous system regulates the functions of the gastrointestinal tract, and its response to changes in the gut lumen is not well understood. This study used live-cell confocal recordings to investigate neuronal response to luminal mechanical and chemical stimuli. The results show that intestinal distension regulates the excitability of enteric neural circuits via mechanosensitive channels, and the content of the intestinal lumen dynamically regulates the excitability of enteric neural circuits.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Abdel Aziz Shaheen, Gilaad G. Kaplan, Keith A. Sharkey, B. Cord Lethebe, Mark G. Swain
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of major depressive disorder (MDD) and antidepressant use on survival among patients with chronic viral hepatitis. The results showed that MDD was more prevalent in HCV patients and they were more likely to use antidepressants compared to HBV patients. However, MDD did not affect disease progression or survival in both HBV and HCV cohorts. The use of certain antidepressants was associated with poor decompensated cirrhosis-free survival. Further study should be conducted on the use of antidepressants in viral hepatitis patients.
HEPATOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Christopher D. Drummond-Main, Younghee Ahn, Mitchell Kesler, Cezar Gavrilovici, Do Young Kim, Ivana Kiroski, Samantha L. Baglot, Amy Chen, Keith A. Sharkey, Matthew N. Hill, G. Campbell Teskey, Jong M. Rho
Summary: This study found that CBD affects mitochondrial function and neuronal integrity, reducing mitochondrial respiration and calcium uptake, and leading to learning and memory deficits. These effects are independent of CB1 receptor and mitochondrial G-protein-coupled receptor 55.
CANNABIS AND CANNABINOID RESEARCH
(2023)
Proceedings Paper
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Fernando A. Vicentini, Tanner Fahlman, Stephanie G. Raptis, Laurie E. Wallace, Simon A. Hirota, Keith A. Sharkey
Summary: Propulsive gastrointestinal motility is crucial for digestion and defense. It is regulated by the intramural reflex pathways of the enteric nervous system (ENS), which is influenced by luminal factors, including the gut microbiota. The gut microbiota not only regulates ENS motor programs, but also plays a critical role in the structure and function of the ENS.
ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM II
(2022)