THC exposure of human iPSC neurons impacts genes associated with neuropsychiatric disorders

Transl Psychiatry. 2018 Apr 25;8(1):89. doi: 10.1038/s41398-018-0137-3.

Abstract

There is a strong association between cannabis use and schizophrenia but the underlying cellular links are poorly understood. Neurons derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) offer a platform for investigating both baseline and dynamic changes in human neural cells. Here, we exposed neurons derived from hiPSCs to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and identified diagnosis-specific differences not detectable in vehicle-controls. RNA transcriptomic analyses revealed that THC administration, either by acute or chronic exposure, dampened the neuronal transcriptional response following potassium chloride (KCl)-induced neuronal depolarization. THC-treated neurons displayed significant synaptic, mitochondrial, and glutamate signaling alterations that may underlie their failure to activate appropriately; this blunted response resembles effects previously observed in schizophrenia hiPSC- derived neurons. Furthermore, we show a significant alteration in THC-related genes associated with autism and intellectual disability, suggesting shared molecular pathways perturbed in neuropsychiatric disorders that are exacerbated by THC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Autistic Disorder / genetics
  • Base Sequence
  • Dronabinol / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Glutamic Acid / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / drug effects*
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Intellectual Disability / genetics
  • Mental Disorders / genetics*
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Post-Synaptic Density / metabolism
  • Schizophrenia / genetics
  • Transcriptome

Substances

  • Glutamic Acid
  • Dronabinol