title: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol inhibits the splenocyte proliferative response to herpes simplex virus type 2.
abstract: The present investigation was undertaken to determine the effect of in vivo Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-9-THC) treatment on immune responsiveness to secondary exposure to herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) antigens in vitro. A splenocyte proliferative assay, employing HSV2-infected mouse embryo fibroblasts as target cells, was used to measure immune responsiveness. Administration of 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg Delta-9-THC to B6C3F1 mice in concert with HSV2 infection resulted in suppression of the proliferative response to HSV2 cell-surface antigens expressed on virus-infected mouse embryo fibroblasts. Similarly, in vitro treatment of HSV2-infected cells with Delta-9-THC (10(-7) M to 10(-5) M) resulted in a dose-dependent suppression of proliferative responsiveness of splenocytes of non-drug-treated HSV2-sensitized mice. These results suggest that Delta-9-THC inhibits immune responsiveness of B6C3F1 mice to homotypic challenge with HSV2. This inhibition may be resultant of drug action on both effector immunocytes and target HSV2 antigen-bearing cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: McNerney
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mishkin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D013759:Dronabinol