Inhibition of macrophage nitric oxide production by tetrahydrocannabinol in vivo and in vitro.
delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, 10 micrograms) was administered intraperitoneally to thioglycollate-treated mice. After 18 h, peritoneal macrophages were harvested and nitric oxide (NO.) production was induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 microgram/ml) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma, 0.1-10 U/ml). Macrophages from THC-treated mice produced about half as much NO. as controls. THC (1 microgram/ml) added in vitro caused further inhibition. Greater inhibition was observed at the lower (0.1-0.3 U/ml) IFN-gamma concentrations. The results suggest that the use of THC can reduce NO. production and thereby affect host defense mechanisms, inflammation and autoimmune responses.
Coffey
R G
RG
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa 33612, USA.
Snella
E
E
Johnson
K
K
Pross
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013759:Dronabinol; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase