title: Influence of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol on expression of histone and ribosomal genes in normal and transformed human cells.
abstract: The influence of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC) on the cellular levels of histone mRNAs and ribosomal RNAs was examined in several normal and transformed human cell lines--HeLa S3 cells, WI-38 human diploid fibroblasts, SV40-transformed WI-38 cells, and A549 lung carcinoma cells. RNA sequences were quantitatively assayed by electrophoretic fractionation, transfer to nitrocellulose, and hybridization with cloned genomic human histone or ribosomal DNA sequences. Treatment with delta 9-THC (10-40 microM) for 10 hr resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in the representation of H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 histone mRNAs without a significant inhibitory effect on the levels of ribosomal RNAs. The cannabinoid-mediated inhibitory effect on histone gene expression was less evident in cells with active drug-metabolizing systems.
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D006657:Histones / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis*; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006657:Histones; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012335:RNA, Ribosomal; D013759:Dronabinol