Pross S, Nakano Y, Widen R, McHugh S, Friedman H
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa 33612.
Mech Ageing Dev. 1993 May;68(1-3):11-26. doi: 10.1016/0047-6374(93)90136-f.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) on spleen cells of young (2 week), adult (2 month) and old (15 and 24 month) mice. THC has been shown by many investigators to suppress various immune parameters in adults. Since immune capabilities are already diminished at either age extreme, it seemed relevant to investigate the effect of this drug with aging. It was found that when spleen cells were stimulated with concanavalin A (Con A), phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or anti-CD3 antibody, the magnitude of the proliferation was greatest in the adult and less at either age extreme. When Con A or PHA stimulated cells were treated with varying doses of THC, the proliferation of cells was suppressed with the general pattern of suppression similar at all ages. However, the absolute magnitude of the resultant suppression was greater in young and old mice. In contrast, when the cells were stimulated with anti-CD3 antibody and THC, both the pattern of the immunomodulation as well as the absolute effects differed with age of the mice. In this regard, anti-CD3 stimulation and low doses of THC stimulated lymphocyte proliferation in the adult mice. This combination was found to increase CD3 positive cells of the Ly2 subclass (effector/suppressor) in the adult. At either age extreme, the THC induced enhancement of proliferation was not as apparent. In addition, the cells from mice at either age extreme were more readily suppressed at 7 micrograms THC than were adult cells. It appears, therefore, that age is an important variable in terms of considering the effects of drugs of abuse.
本研究的目的是调查δ-9-四氢大麻酚（THC）对幼年（2周龄）、成年（2月龄）和老年（15和24月龄）小鼠脾细胞的免疫调节作用。许多研究人员已表明THC会抑制成年小鼠的各种免疫参数。由于在两个年龄极端情况下免疫能力都会下降，因此研究这种药物随年龄增长的影响似乎很有意义。研究发现，当用伴刀豆球蛋白A（Con A）、植物血凝素（PHA）或抗CD3抗体刺激脾细胞时，细胞增殖幅度在成年小鼠中最大，在两个年龄极端情况下则较小。当用不同剂量的THC处理Con A或PHA刺激的细胞时，细胞增殖受到抑制，且所有年龄组的抑制模式大致相似。然而，幼年和老年小鼠中抑制的绝对幅度更大。相比之下，当用抗CD3抗体和THC刺激细胞时，免疫调节模式以及绝对效应随小鼠年龄不同而有所差异。在这方面，抗CD3刺激和低剂量的THC刺激成年小鼠的淋巴细胞增殖。发现这种组合会增加成年小鼠中Ly2亚类（效应/抑制）的CD3阳性细胞。在两个年龄极端情况下，THC诱导的增殖增强并不明显。此外，与成年细胞相比，两个年龄极端情况下的小鼠细胞在7微克THC作用下更容易受到抑制。因此，在考虑滥用药物的影响时，年龄似乎是一个重要变量。
