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Published on: October 16, 2013
Marijuana components stimulate human peripheral blood mononuclear cell secretion of interferon-gamma and suppress
B Watzl1, P Scuderi, R R Watson
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson.
Insights
Both psychoactive delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and nonpsychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) from marijuana impact immune cells. These cannabinoids alter cytokine secretion, suggesting marijuana
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cytokines are crucial for immune regulation.
- Marijuana contains psychoactive (THC) and nonpsychoactive (CBD) components.
- Understanding their immunomodulatory effects is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro effects of THC and CBD on human immune cells.
- To determine how these cannabinoids influence cytokine secretion.
Main Methods:
- Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cultured with mitogens.
- THC and CBD were added at concentrations mimicking plasma levels after marijuana smoking.
- Cytokine levels (IL-1, TNF, IFN, IL-2) in supernatants were measured using ELISA.
Main Results:
- Low concentrations of THC and CBD increased interferon-gamma (IFN) levels.
- High concentrations of THC and CBD blocked IFN synthesis/release.
- CBD decreased interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) levels.
- Neither cannabinoid affected interleukin-2 (IL-2) secretion.
Conclusions:
- Both psychoactive and nonpsychoactive marijuana components modulate immune responses.
- THC and CBD can alter human PBMC cytokine secretion profiles.
- These findings highlight the immunomodulatory potential of marijuana constituents.
Abstract:
We investigated the in vitro effects of both psychoactive and nonpsychoactive marijuana components on leukocyte secretion of the immunoregulatory cytokines interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF), interferon-gamma (IFN) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). Psychoactive delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and nonpsychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) were added to cultures of mitogen-activated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the concentrations of IL-1, TNF, IFN and IL-2 in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA systems. Concentrations of THC and CBD, comparable to plasma levels found after smoking marijuana (10-100 ng/ml), increased the concentration of measurable IFN (139 and 68%), while high concentrations of both cannabinoids (5-20 micrograms/ml) completely blocked synthesis and/or release of this cytokine. CBD was also shown to decrease the measurable quantity of both IL-1 and TNF. In contrast to the effects on IFN, IL-1 and TNF, both cannabinoids, had no effect on IL-2 secretion. This report suggests that both psychoactive and nonpsychoactive components of marijuana are immunomodulating and can potentially alter cytokine secretion of human PBMC.
