Altered cannabinoid receptor mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from marijuana smokers

We studied, using RT-PCR, the relative expression of cannabinoid receptor (CBR) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from different donor groups. Cells from normal donors expressed a CB2 mRNA level threefold higher than CB1 across all age, gender or ethnicity groups, and amplicons were of the same size in all donors. However, cells from marijuana users expressed higher levels of CBR mRNA, but with a preserved CB1/CB2 ratio of 1:3. CBR gene products were also studied following short-term mitogen activation in vitro. CB1 expression decreased following mitogen stimulation when compared to the time-matched medium only cells while the expression of CB2 mRNA remained unchanged. These studies suggest that marijuana smoking and immune activation can alter the basal levels of CB1 and CB2 in PBMCs.