Suppression of human macrophage function in vitro by delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol.
The ability of macrophages to function in the presence of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major psychoactive component in marijuana, was evaluated. THC added to macrophage cultures prepared from human peripheral blood inhibited macrophage spreading and phagocytosis of yeast. The effects of THC were concentration dependent, with inhibitory effects observed from 10 to 1 micrograms/ml or lower. These results suggest that macrophages are more sensitive to THC than are lymphocytes because macrophage functions were inhibited by THC at concentrations that did not affect lymphocyte function. Thus, inhibition of lymphocyte function(s) by THC could be attributed to a direct effect of the drug on macrophages which indirectly results in lowered lymphoid cell activity.
Specter
S
S
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa 33612.
Lancz
G
G
Goodfellow
D
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D013759:Dronabinol