Temporal variation in CB2R levels following T lymphocyte activation: evidence that cannabinoids modulate CXCL12-induced chemotaxis

Int Immunopharmacol. 2007 Mar;7(3):360-71. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2006.11.008. Epub 2006 Dec 18.

Abstract

Cannabinoids have long been proposed to affect the immune system, especially as one of the cannabinoid receptors, the cannabinoid receptor-2 (CB(2)R) has been found almost exclusively on immune cells. Here, using human in vitro activated peripheral blood-derived T lymphocytes we investigated the long-term changes in cannabinoid receptor protein expression following cellular activation and the effects of cannabinoids on migration. We report that resting T lymphocytes do not detectably express either the cannabinoid receptor-1 (CB(1)R) or CB(2)R at the protein level. However, CB(2)R protein expression is upregulated in a biphasic manner in T lymphocytes following activation by superantigen. The cannabinoids 2-AG and JWH-133 were found to elicit activation of downstream biochemical effectors (as assessed by the phosphorylation of the ERK1/2 MAP kinases). Neither 2-AG nor JWH-133 induced chemotaxis in day 5 activated T lymphocytes, when receptor expression was at its highest. Interestingly, both 2-AG and JWH-133 inhibited CXCL12-induced chemotaxis, suggesting a modulatory role for cannabinoids in activated T lymphocytes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amidohydrolases / genetics
  • Arachidonic Acids / pharmacology
  • Cannabinoids / pharmacology*
  • Chemokine CXCL12
  • Chemokines, CXC / pharmacology*
  • Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / drug effects*
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Glycerides / pharmacology
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Monoacylglycerol Lipases / genetics
  • Phosphorylation
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides / pharmacology
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / analysis*
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2 / genetics
  • T-Lymphocytes / chemistry
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Arachidonic Acids
  • CXCL12 protein, human
  • Cannabinoids
  • Chemokine CXCL12
  • Chemokines, CXC
  • Endocannabinoids
  • Glycerides
  • Polyunsaturated Alkamides
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2
  • glyceryl 2-arachidonate
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • Monoacylglycerol Lipases
  • Amidohydrolases
  • fatty-acid amide hydrolase
  • 1,1-dimethylbutyl-1-deoxy-Delta(9)-THC
  • anandamide