2010 Small Research Grant - Nuffield Fund
Dr Nadia Ladak
Honorary Lecturer/Specialist Registrar in Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Management, Leicester Royal Infirmary
The role of cannabinoids in sepsis
Summary: Our ongoing research is looking into the effects of sepsis on the cannabinoid system. The cannabinoid system in recent years has been linked to sepsis and modulation of the system has been shown to alter outcome. Following ethics approval we have recruited 50 intensive care patients with a diagnosis of sepsis, and followed up 25 patients into the recovery period. The mRNA expression of cannabinoid receptors and enzymes will be quantified by PCR. Comparisons will be made against the clinical data, mortality/morbidity, and the timing of the samples. Major interim findings are neutrophils express mRNA for the novel cannabinoid receptor GPR55 and the recently characterised second FAAH enzyme.
