| Literature DB >> 11779138 |
Brian Gardner1, Li X Zu, Sherven Sharma, Qian Liu, Alexandros Makriyannis, Donald P Tashkin, Steven M Dubinett.
Abstract
The marijuana-derived cannabinoid Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has been shown to be immunosuppressive. We report that THC induces the immunosuppressive cytokine TGF-beta by human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The ability of THC to stimulate TGF-beta production was blocked by the CB2 receptor specific antagonist SR144528 but not by the CB1 specific antagonist AM251. Furthermore, our data suggest that TGF-beta actively regulates lymphocyte CB2 receptor expression in an autocrine and paracrine manner. Whereas the addition of recombinant TGF-beta to PBL cultures downregulated CB2 receptor expression, anti-TGF-beta antibody treatment increased CB2 receptor expression. We conclude that one mechanism by which THC contributes to immune suppression is by stimulating an enhanced production of lymphocyte TGF-beta. (c)2002 Elsevier Science.Entities:
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Year: 2002 PMID： 11779138 DOI： 10.1006/bbrc.2001.6179
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Biochem Biophys Res Commun ISSN： 0006-291X Impact factor: 3.575