Increased CB2 mRNA and anandamide in human blood after cessation of cannabis abuse.
In previous studies, long-term cannabis use led to alterations of the endocannabinoid system including an increase in CB1 and/or CB2 receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) in blood cells and an increase in the serum level of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol. However, in those studies, cannabis use was stopped only few days before testing or not interrupted at all. Therefore, one cannot decide whether the alterations are due to long-term cannabis abuse or are confounded by acute effects of cannabis. Blood was sampled from donors that had smoked marijuana ≥20 times in their lives but had abstained from cannabis for ≥6 months (high-frequency users, HFU) and from controls (cannabis use ≤5 times lifetime). CB1 and CB2 mRNA was determined in peripheral mononuclear blood cells using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Serum anandamide level was assayed using electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. CB2 mRNA was increased by 45 % in HFU when compared to controls, whereas CB1 mRNA did not differ. The anandamide level in HFU exceeded that in controls by 90 %. Tobacco smoking could be excluded as a confounding factor. In conclusion, marijuana users that had smoked marijuana ≥20 times in their lives and stopped cannabis use at least 6 months before the study show an increase in CB2 receptor mRNA in the blood and in serum anandamide level. These alterations resemble those obtained for marijuana smokers that had stopped cannabis use only few days before testing and may be implicated in the pathogenesis of disorders associated with long-term cannabis use.
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Cologne, 50924, Cologne, Germany.
Daniela
D
Muhl
Markus
M
Kathmann
Carolin
C
Hoyer
Laura
L
Kranaster
Martin
M
Hellmich
Christoph W
CW
Gerth
Johannes
J
Faulhaber
Eberhard
E
Schlicker
F Markus
FM
Leweke
D000328:Adult; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000097:blood*; D063388:Endocannabinoids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides / Q000097:blood*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1 / Q000235:genetics; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D063388:Endocannabinoids; D053284:Polyunsaturated Alkamides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043884:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1; D043885:Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2; C078814:anandamide