title: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol inhibits macrophage protein expression in response to bacterial immunomodulators.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC), the major psychoactive component of marihuana, on macrophage protein expression in response to bacterial immunomodulators. Peritoneal macrophages of (B6C3)F1 mice receiving Propionibacterium acnes exhibited a novel protein profile when compared to resident or vehicle-treated macrophages. In contrast, macrophages from mice treated with P. acnes in concert with delta-9-THC exhibited profiles for which the majority of protein species reverted to patterns seen in profiles of resident or vehicle-treated macrophages. Treatment of the murine macrophage line P388D1 (DBA/2) in vitro with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in the hyperproduction of a subset of proteins ranging from 73 to 18 kD relative molecular weight. Coexposure of the P388D1 cells to LPS and 10(-7) M to 10(-5) M delta-9-THC resulted in a dose-related depletion of these proteins. These results suggest that delta-9-THC suppresses the expression of proteins elicited by macrophage bacterial immunomodulators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond 23298-0678.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mishkin
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D010533:Peritoneal Lavage; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000276:immunology; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D013759:Dronabinol; C025351:delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid