Abstract
The major psychoactive cannabinoid found in marijuana is delta-1-tetrahydrocannabinol, designated delta-1-THC. This cannabinoid is but one of 62 cannabinoids that have been identified in the plant (1). In addition to the cannabinoids, 364 organic compounds have also been identified. Cannabinoids are defined as naturally occurring 21 carbon compounds of cannabis including analogues of these compounds and their metabolites (2,3). Delta-1-THC as well as other cannabinoids, e.g., cannabinol and cannabidiol affect growth, development and reproductive activity and a variety of cellular systems including the immune system (4–8).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
C. E. Turner, Marijuana and cannabis: why the conflict, in: “Marijuana ’84: proceedings of the Oxford symposium on Cannabis,” D. J. Harvey, ed., IRL Press, Oxford (1985).
R. Mechoulam, Cannabinoid chemistry, in: “Marijuana: chemistry, pharmacology, metabolism and clinical effects,” M. Mechoulam, ed., Academic Press, New York (1973).
R. K. Razdan, Structural-activity relationships in cannabinoids, Pharm. Rev. 38:75 (1986).
G. G. Nahas and W. D. M. Paton, eds., “Marijuana biological effects,” Pergamon Press, Oxford (1979).
S. Agurell, W. L. Dewey, and R. E. Willette, eds., “The cannabinoids: chemical pharmacologic and therapeutic aspects,” Academic Press, Orlando (1984).
D. J. Harvey, ed., “Marijuana ’84: proceedings of the Oxford symposium on Cannabis,” IRL Press, Oxford (1985).
B. R. Martin, Cellular effects of cannabinoids, Pharmacological Reviews 38:45 (1986).
M. C. Braude and A. M. Zimmerman, eds., “Genetic and perinatal effects of abused substances,” Academic Press, Orlando (1987).
R. J. Lau, D. G. Tubergen, M. Barr, and E. F. Domino, Phytohemagglutinininduced lymphocyte transformation in humans receiving delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinol, Science 192:805 (1976).
G. S. Rachelefsky, G. Opelz, M. R. Michey. P. Lessin, M. Kinchi, M. J. Silverstein, and E. R. Stiehm, Intact humoral and cell-mediated immunity in chronic marijuana smoking, J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 58:483 (1976).
S. G. White, S. C. Brin, and B. W. Janicki, Mitogen-induced blastogenic responses of lymphocytes from marijuana smokers, Science 188:71 (1975).
P. Cushman and R. Khurana, Marijuana and T-lymphocyte rosettes, Clin. Pharm. Therap. 19:310 (1976).
P. Cushman and R. Khurana, A controlled cycle of tetrahydrocannabinol smoking, Life Sci. 20:971 (1977).
S. Gupta, M. H. Grieco, and P. Cushman, Impairment of rosette-forming T-lymphocytes in chronic marijuana smokers, New Eng. J. Med. 291:874 (1974).
G. G. Nahas, N. Suciu-Foca, J. P. Armand, and A. Morishima, Inhibition of cellular mediated immunity in marijuana smokers, Science 183:419 (1974).
S. Pross, T. Klein, C. Newton, and H. Friedman, Differential effects of marijuana components on proliferation of spleen, lymph node and thymus cells in vitro ,Int. J. Immunopharm. 9:363 (1987).
G. G. Nahas, B. Desoize, J. P. Armand, J. Hsu, and A. Morishima, Natural cannabinoids: apparent depression of nucleic acid and protein synthesis in cultured human lymphocytes, in: “The pharmacology of marijuana,” M. C. Braude and S. Szara, eds., Raven Press, New York (1976).
G. G. Nahas, A. Morishima, and B. Desoize, Effects of cannabinoids on macromolecular synthesis and replication of cultured lymphocytes, Fed. Proc. 36:1748 (1977).
L. Schwatzfarb, M. Neddie, and M. Chavez-Chase, Dose-related inhibition of leukocyte migration by marijuana and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in vitro ,J. Clin. Pharm. 14:35 (1974).
S. C. Specter, T. Klein, C. Newton, M. Mondragon, R. Widen, and H. Friedman, Marijuana effects on immunity: suppression of natural killer cell activity by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, Int. J. Immunopharm. 8:741 (1986).
A. E. Munson, J. A. Levy, L. S. Harria, and W. L. Dewey, Effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on the immune system, in: “The pharmacology of marijuana,” M. C. Braude and S. Szara, eds., Raven Press, New York (1976).
H. Rosenkrantz, A. J. Miller, and H. J. Esber, Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol suppression of the primary immune response in rats, J. Toxicol. Envir. Health 1:119 (1975).
H. Rosenkrantz, The immune response and marijuana, in: “Marijuana: chemistry, biochemistry and cellular effects,” G. G. Nahas, ed., Springer-Verlag, New York (1976).
S. S. Lefkowitz and C. Yang, Effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on mouse spleens, Res. Commun. Chem. Path. Pharm. 11:659 (1975).
S. S. Lefkowitz, K. Klager, D. Nemeth, and M. Preuss, Immunosuppression of mice by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, Res. Commun. Chem. Path. Pharm. 19:101 (1978).
Y. K. Luthra, H. J. Esber, D. M. Lariviere, and H. Rosenkrantz, Assessment of tolerance to immunosuppressive activity of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in rats, J. Immunopharm. 2:245 (1980).
S. H. Smith, L. S. Harris, I. M. Uwaydah, and A. E. Munson, Structure-activity relationships of natural and synthetic cannabinoids in suppression of humoral and cell-mediated immunity, J. Pharm. Exp. Therap. 207:165 (1978).
W. O. T. Baczynsky and A. M. Zimmerman, Effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabinol and cannabidiol on the immune system of mice. I. In vitro investigation of the primary and secondary immune response, Pharmacology 26:1 (1983a).
S. Zimmerman, A. M. Zimmerman, I. L. Cameron, and H. L. Laurence, Delta-1-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and cannabinol effects on the immune response of mice, Pharmcology 15:10 (1977).
C. R. Mc-Carthy, M. B. Cutting, G. A. Simmons, W. Pereira, R. Laguarda, and G. L. Huber, The effect of marijuana on the in vitro function of pulmonary alveolar macrophages, in: “The pharmacology of marijuana,” M. C. Braude and S. Szara, eds., Raven Press, New York (1976).
M. Friedman, M. Lopez-Cepero, T. Klein, and H. Friedman, Suppressive effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in vitro on phagocytosis by murine macrophages (42332), Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 182:225 (1986).
M. Lopez-Cepero, M. Friedman, T. Klein, and H. Friedman, Tetrahydro-cannabinol-induced suppression of macrophage spreading and phagocytic activity in vitro ,J. Leuk. Bid. 39:679 (1986).
T. Klein, C. A. Newton, R. Widen, and H. Friedman, The effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and ll-hydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on T-lymphocyte and B-lymphocyte mitogen responses, J. Immunopharm. 7:451 (1985).
W. O. T. Baczynsky and A. M. Zimmerman, Effects of tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabinol and cannabidiol on the immune system splenocytes, Pharma cology 26:12 (1983b).
R. Mechoulam, J. J. Feigenbaum, N. Lander, M. Segal, T. U. C. Jarbe, A. J. Hiltunen, and P. Consroe, Enantiomeric cannabinoids: stereospecificity of psychotropic activity, Experientia 44:762 (1988).
R. J. Fessenden and J. S. Fessenden, “Organic chemistry,” Second Edition, Willard Grant Press, Boston (1982).
N. Titishov, R. Mechoulam, and A. M. Zimmerman, Stereospecific effects of (-) and ( + )-7-hydroxy-delta-6-tetrahydrocannabinol-dimethylheptyl on the immune system of mice, Pharmacology 39:337 (1989).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1991 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Zimmerman, A.M., Titishov, N., Mechoulam, R., Zimmerman, S. (1991). Effect of Stereospecific Cannabinoids on the Immune System. In: Friedman, H., Specter, S., Klein, T.W. (eds) Drugs of Abuse, Immunity, and Immunodeficiency. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 288. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5925-8_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-5925-8_8
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-5927-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-5925-8
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive