title: Suppression by Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol of the primary immunoglobulin M response by human peripheral blood B cells is associated with impaired STAT3 activation.
abstract: This study was undertaken to gain insights into the mechanism for Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9)-THC)-mediated suppression of primary immunoglobulin M (IgM) responses in humans. An in vitro activation model, which employs cell surface-expressed CD40 ligand (CD40L) and recombinant cytokines (interleukin (IL)-2, -6, and -10), was used to differentiate human peripheral blood (HPB) naïve B cells into IgM secreting cells. Pretreatment with Δ(9)-THC significantly decreased the number of IgM secreting cells as determined by ELISPOT. The attenuation of IgM secretion by Δ(9)-THC involved, at least in part, the impairment of plasma cell differentiation as evidenced by suppression of immunoglobulin joining chain (IgJ) mRNA expression. The analysis at each of two different stages critically involved in plasma cell differentiation indicates that Δ(9)-THC impaired both the primary activation stage and proliferation of B cells. Interestingly, Δ(9)-THC selectively suppressed the surface expression of CD80, but not other measured B-cell activation markers (CD69, CD86, and ICAM1). Furthermore, pretreatment with Δ(9)-THC was accompanied by a robust decrease of STAT3 phosphorylation, whereas the phosphorylation of the p65 NFκB subunit was not affected. Collectively, these data provide new insights into the mechanisms for impaired B cell function by Δ(9)-THC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Michigan State University, USA.
authors.forename: Thitirat
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ngaotepprutaram
authors.forename: Barbara L F
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carney
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Norbert E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Kaminski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D013759:Dronabinol / Q000633:toxicity*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010950:Plasma Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D013759:Dronabinol
keywords: (9)-tetrahydrocannabinol; CD40 ligand; CD40L; CD80; CFSE; Cannabinoids; HPB; ICAM; IL; IgM; Immunoglobulin joining chain; NA; STAT; STAT3; T cell-dependent humoral immune response; VH; carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester; human peripheral blood; immunoglobulin M; intercellular adhesion molecule; interleukin; naïve; signal transducer and activator of transcription; vehicle; Δ(9)-THCΔ