title: Perinatal exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol triggers profound defects in T cell differentiation and function in fetal and postnatal stages of life, including decreased responsiveness to HIV antigens.
abstract: Marijuana abuse is very prominent among pregnant women. Although marijuana cannabinoids have been shown to exert immunosuppression in adults, virtually nothing is known about the effects of marijuana use during pregnancy on the developing immune system of the fetus and during postnatal life. We noted that murine fetal thymus expressed high levels of the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. Moreover, perinatal exposure to Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) had a profound effect on the fetus as evidenced by a decrease in thymic cellularity on gestational days 16, 17, and 18 and postgestational day 1 and marked alterations in T cell subpopulations. These outcomes were reversed by CB1/CB2 antagonists, suggesting that THC-mediated these effects through cannabinoid receptors. Thymic atrophy induced in the fetus correlated with caspase-dependent apoptosis in thymocytes. Thymic atrophy was the result of direct action of THC and not based on maternal factors inasmuch as THC was able to induce T cell apoptosis in vitro in fetal thymic organ cultures. It is noteworthy that perinatal exposure to THC also had a profound effect on the immune response during postnatal life. Peripheral T cells from such mice showed decreased proliferative response to T cell mitogen as well as both T cell and antibody response to HIV-1 p17/p24/gp120 antigens. Together, our data demonstrate for the first time that perinatal exposure to THC triggers profound T cell dysfunction, thereby suggesting that the offspring of marijuana abusers who have been exposed to THC in utero may be at a higher risk of exhibiting immune dysfunction and contracting infectious diseases including HIV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, 6311 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29208, USA.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lombard
authors.forename: Venkatesh L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Hegde
authors.forename: Mitzi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagarkatti
authors.forename: Prakash S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Nagarkatti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D063387:Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015488:HIV Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology; D007211:Indoles / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D038041:Lymphopoiesis / Q000187:drug effects; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010880:Piperidines / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000077285:Rimonabant; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D060168:Thymocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D063386:Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; D063387:Cannabinoid Receptor Antagonists; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D015488:HIV Antigens; D007211:Indoles; D010880:Piperidines; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D013759:Dronabinol; D020169:Caspases; D000077285:Rimonabant; C094023:iodopravadoline