No evidence for direct modulatory effects of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol on human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
The effects of cannabinoids (CB) that have been reported in various leukocyte populations were mainly immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory. Almost nothing is known, however, about direct interactions of cannabinoids with human polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), although m-RNA for the cannabinoid receptor-2 (CB(2)) was found in human PMN. In order to investigate a potential influence of cannabinoids on human PMN, the migration and phagocytosis of PMN were studied in the presence of Delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC) at final concentrations between 10(-10) and 10(-5) M. No effect was detectable on these essential PMN functions; and besides, no CB(2)-receptor expression could be detected using the Western blotting technique. Thus, circulating human PMN from healthy individuals remain unaffected by Delta(9)-THC due to the absence of functional CB(2)-receptor expression.
Deusch
Engelbert
E
University Hospital/AKH, Vienna Medical University, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. engelbert.deusch@akh-wien.ac.at
Kraft
Birgit
B
Nahlik
Gabriele
G
Weigl
Lukas
L
Hohenegger
Martin
M
Kress
Hans Georg
HG
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000187:drug effects; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000032:analysis
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2; D013759:Dronabinol