title: Altered cannabinoid receptor mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from marijuana smokers.
abstract: We studied, using RT-PCR, the relative expression of cannabinoid receptor (CBR) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from different donor groups. Cells from normal donors expressed a CB2 mRNA level threefold higher than CB1 across all age, gender or ethnicity groups, and amplicons were of the same size in all donors. However, cells from marijuana users expressed higher levels of CBR mRNA, but with a preserved CB1/CB2 ratio of 1:3. CBR gene products were also studied following short-term mitogen activation in vitro. CB1 expression decreased following mitogen stimulation when compared to the time-matched medium only cells while the expression of CB2 mRNA remained unchanged. These studies suggest that marijuana smoking and immune activation can alter the basal levels of CB1 and CB2 in PBMCs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, MDC Box 10, 12901 Bruce Downs Blvd., University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nong
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Newton
authors.forename: Qingwen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Roth
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000208:ethnology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D008934:Mitogens; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug