Suppression by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol of interleukin 2-induced lymphocyte proliferation and lymphokine-activated killer cell activity.
The major psychoactive marijuana component, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), suppressed proliferation of murine spleen cells stimulated with recombinant human interleukin 2 (IL-2) and also suppressed the appearance of the lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell phenomenon in IL-2-treated spleen cell preparations. Cell function was depressed in a dose-dependent manner with as little as 2.5 micrograms/ml THC (8 microM). In addition, spleen cells previously stimulated in culture with IL-2 and then incubated with THC for 4 h prior to target cell addition, displayed suppressed cytolytic activity against both YAC-1 and EL-4 tumor targets. Killing of EL 4 cells was suppressed at lower drug doses than the killing of YAC-1 targets. These results suggest that THC can suppress several important functions of IL-2 including clonal expansion of lymphocytes, expansion of killer cell populations and stimulation of killer cell cytotoxic activity.
Kawakami
Y
Y
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa 33612.
Klein
T W
TW
Newton
C
C
Djeu
J Y
JY
Specter
S
S
Friedman
H
H
D000818:Animals; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism
D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D013759:Dronabinol