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Immune function alterations in mice tolerant to Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol: Functional and biochemical parameters
- Publication Year :
- 1998
-
Abstract
- We studied the effect of acute (1 h) or chronic exposure (7 and 14 days) to delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) on immune parameters in male Swiss mice. One hour after a dose of 10 mg/kg s.c., the splenocyte proliferative response to ConA and NK activity were not inhibited, but there was a significant decrease in the production of IL-2. After 7 days of treatment, when mice were tolerant to delta9-THC-induced analgesia, these functional parameters were strongly inhibited and there was a persistent reduction in IL-2 and IFNgamma. With 14 days exposure to the drug, splenocyte proliferation was significantly reduced only with 5 microg/ml ConA, and NK activity was still significantly depressed (about 37%). IL-2 had returned to the control value, whereas IFNgamma was still 40% down. Flow cytometry analysis of spleen cell composition indicated no changes after the acute and 7 day treatments, but at 14 days there was a 20% decrease in the number of T lymphocytes, mirrored by a 26% increase of B lymphocytes. In conclusion, in vivo exposure to psychoactive doses of delta9-THC has profound effects on immune function. This implies some important questions in relation to the liberalization of marijuana and its therapeutic uses.
- Subjects :
- Drug
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Natural killer
media_common.quotation_subject
T-Lymphocytes
Cytotoxicity
Splenocyte composition
Immunology
Biology
Flow cytometry
Interferon-gamma
Leukocyte Count
Mice
Immune system
In vivo
Reference Values
Internal medicine
medicine
Splenocyte
Concanavalin A
Immune Tolerance
Chronic Δ
Immunology and Allergy
Animals
Dronabinol
Tetrahydrocannabinol
Cells, Cultured
media_common
B-Lymphocytes
medicine.diagnostic_test
Cytokine levels
THC treatment
9
Splenocyte proliferation
Killer Cells, Natural
Endocrinology
Neurology
Immune System
Antibody Formation
Interleukin-2
Neurology (clinical)
Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol
Cell Division
Spleen
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....677e27b321234f482f5339ab1b8a5d37