Marijuana and T lymphocyte rosettes.
The effect of marijuana smoking on sheep cell rosetting properties of both early (active) and total T lymphocytes was studied in vitro. Significantly fewer active rosettes were formed by T cells from a population of 35 who appeared to be chronic marijuana smokers than the 34 controls. The late, or cold-enhanced rosettes formed by smokers and nonsmokers were similar, suggesting that similar numbers of rosette-forming T cells were present in the peripheral blood of smokers. These data suggest that marijuana smoking may affect the function of a subpopulation of T lymphocytes, identified by their capacity to form early rosettes, possibly by affecting these cell membranes.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002188:Cannabis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007104:Immune Adherence Reaction; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D012756:Sheep; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors