Friedman H, Klein T W, Newton C, Daaka Y
University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, USA.
Adv Exp Med Biol. 1995;373:103-13. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4615-1951-5_15.
THC, the major psychoactive component of marijuana, has been shown both in humans and experimental animals to have immunomodulatory properties. For example, marijuana smokers may show impaired immunological functions, including deficiency of blood leukocyte blastogenesis to mitogens. Detailed studies with mice have shown that animals given THC can show marked immunomodulation, including suppression of antibody formation, deficient cytokine production, etc. However, recent studies have also shown that lymphoid cells evince enhanced production or release or IL1, but suppression of IL2 and interferon production. Such lymphoid cells treated in vitro with THC also show suppressed blastogenesis to antigens and mitogens, suppressed NK activity, etc. In contrast, it has recently been shown that THC can enhance production or release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This includes release of these cytokines from macrophages, including augmented release of IL1, TNF alpha, and IL6 activity. Susceptibility of mice to infection with opportunistic organisms such as L. pneumophila has been found and this increased susceptibility can be modulated by THC. A toxic shock-like death to Legionella has been induced by THC treatment given one day before and one day after infection. Receptors to THC have been detected in the brain as well as in peripheral tissues, including lymphoid cells. Thus, immunomodulation induced by THC may be related to receptor effects as well as unrelated to such receptors. It is clear that THC and other cannabinoids are excellent tools for studying the mechanisms of immune modulation, especially altered susceptibility to microbial infection.
四氢大麻酚（THC）是大麻中的主要精神活性成分，在人类和实验动物中均已显示具有免疫调节特性。例如，吸食大麻者可能会出现免疫功能受损，包括血液白细胞对有丝分裂原的增殖反应不足。对小鼠的详细研究表明，给予THC的动物可表现出明显的免疫调节作用，包括抗体形成受抑制、细胞因子产生不足等。然而，最近的研究还表明，淋巴细胞可表现出白细胞介素-1（IL-1）产生或释放增强，但白细胞介素-2（IL-2）和干扰素产生受抑制。体外经THC处理的此类淋巴细胞对抗原和有丝分裂原的增殖反应也受到抑制，自然杀伤（NK）活性也受到抑制等。相比之下，最近有研究表明THC可增强促炎细胞因子的产生或释放。这包括这些细胞因子从巨噬细胞中的释放，包括IL-1、肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）和IL-6活性的增强释放。已发现小鼠对嗜肺军团菌等机会性生物体感染的易感性，并且这种增加的易感性可被THC调节。在感染前一天和感染后一天给予THC处理可诱发类似中毒性休克的军团菌致死情况。在大脑以及外周组织（包括淋巴细胞）中已检测到THC受体。因此，THC诱导的免疫调节可能与受体效应有关，也可能与这些受体无关。显然，THC和其他大麻素是研究免疫调节机制，特别是对微生物感染易感性改变的优秀工具。
