title: Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol immunochemical studies: haptens, monoclonal antibodies, and a convenient synthesis of radiolabeled delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol.
abstract: Immunopharmacotherapy as an approach to combat drugs of abuse has become an active area of investigation. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the U.S. The main active chemical in marijuana is delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC); hence, monoclonal antibodies with high affinity and specificity for delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol could be valuable immunopharmacotherapeutic intervention and diagnostic tools. We have synthesized immunoconjugates that induce an effective immune response to delta9-THC and describe a convenient synthesis of radiolabeled delta9-THC. We demonstrate the value and use of this probe to select anti-delta9-THC antibodies that bind delta9-THC with good affinity. The synthetic route to radiolabeled delta9-THC has enabled the correct assessment of the affinity of these antibodies to their ligand and may facilitate future binding studies between delta9-THC and its analogues and the cannabinoid receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, and The Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
authors.forename: Longwu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Meijler
authors.forename: Laurence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Altobell
authors.forename: George F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Koob
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wirsching
authors.forename: Kim D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Janda
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006241:Haptens / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D006433:Hemocyanins / Q000737:chemistry; D018796:Immunoconjugates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry; D014316:Tritium; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006241:Haptens; D018796:Immunoconjugates; D008024:Ligands; D014316:Tritium; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D013759:Dronabinol; D006433:Hemocyanins; C032808:keyhole-limpet hemocyanin