Selective inhibition of natural killer but not natural cytotoxic activity in a cloned cell line by delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. 1991

M Wang, and A L Richards, and H Friedman, and J Y Djeu
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa 33612.

Natural killer (NK) and natural cytotoxic (NC) activities are spontaneously generated against certain tumors in vitro and their contribution to tumor immunity is being extensively investigated. We report here that the interleukin-2 (IL-2)-dependent murine cell line, NKB61A2, which we recently found to express both NK and NC functions, can be modulated selectively by 9 delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC, a major psychoactive metabolite of marijuana, could significantly inhibit NK activity without altering NC activity in NKB61A2 cells. Inhibition of NK function occurred at a post-binding stage because effector/target conjugation was unaffected by THC. With regard to NC function, neither the cytotoxic activity of the cells nor release of tumor necrosis factor was interrupted by THC. Therefore, THC may provide a useful tool for dissociating the mechanism of NK and NC activities within a single population of cells.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007376 Interleukin-2 A soluble substance elaborated by antigen- or mitogen-stimulated T-LYMPHOCYTES which induces DNA synthesis in naive lymphocytes. IL-2,Lymphocyte Mitogenic Factor,T-Cell Growth Factor,TCGF,IL2,Interleukin II,Interleukine 2,RU 49637,RU-49637,Ro-23-6019,Ro-236019,T-Cell Stimulating Factor,Thymocyte Stimulating Factor,Interleukin 2,Mitogenic Factor, Lymphocyte,RU49637,Ro 23 6019,Ro 236019,Ro236019,T Cell Growth Factor,T Cell Stimulating Factor
D007694 Killer Cells, Natural Bone marrow-derived lymphocytes that possess cytotoxic properties, classically directed against transformed and virus-infected cells. Unlike T CELLS; and B CELLS; NK CELLS are not antigen specific. The cytotoxicity of natural killer cells is determined by the collective signaling of an array of inhibitory and stimulatory CELL SURFACE RECEPTORS. A subset of T-LYMPHOCYTES referred to as NATURAL KILLER T CELLS shares some of the properties of this cell type. NK Cells,Natural Killer Cells,Cell, NK,Cell, Natural Killer,Cells, NK,Cells, Natural Killer,Killer Cell, Natural,NK Cell,Natural Killer Cell
D002460 Cell Line Established cell cultures that have the potential to propagate indefinitely. Cell Lines,Line, Cell,Lines, Cell
D002999 Clone Cells A group of genetically identical cells all descended from a single common ancestral cell by mitosis in eukaryotes or by binary fission in prokaryotes. Clone cells also include populations of recombinant DNA molecules all carrying the same inserted sequence. (From King & Stansfield, Dictionary of Genetics, 4th ed) Clones,Cell, Clone,Cells, Clone,Clone,Clone Cell
D003602 Cytotoxicity, Immunologic The phenomenon of target cell destruction by immunologically active effector cells. It may be brought about directly by sensitized T-lymphocytes or by lymphoid or myeloid "killer" cells, or it may be mediated by cytotoxic antibody, cytotoxic factor released by lymphoid cells, or complement. Tumoricidal Activity, Immunologic,Immunologic Cytotoxicity,Immunologic Tumoricidal Activities,Immunologic Tumoricidal Activity,Tumoricidal Activities, Immunologic
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013602 T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic Immunized T-lymphocytes which can directly destroy appropriate target cells. These cytotoxic lymphocytes may be generated in vitro in mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC), in vivo during a graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction, or after immunization with an allograft, tumor cell or virally transformed or chemically modified target cell. The lytic phenomenon is sometimes referred to as cell-mediated lympholysis (CML). These CD8-positive cells are distinct from NATURAL KILLER CELLS and NATURAL KILLER T-CELLS. There are two effector phenotypes: TC1 and TC2. Cell-Mediated Lympholytic Cells,Cytotoxic T Cells,Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte,Cytotoxic T-Lymphocytes,TC1 Cell,TC1 Cells,TC2 Cell,TC2 Cells,Cell Mediated Lympholytic Cells,Cell, Cell-Mediated Lympholytic,Cell, TC1,Cell, TC2,Cell-Mediated Lympholytic Cell,Cytotoxic T Cell,Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes,Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte,Lymphocyte, Cytotoxic T,Lympholytic Cell, Cell-Mediated,Lympholytic Cells, Cell-Mediated,T Cell, Cytotoxic,T Lymphocyte, Cytotoxic,T Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic,T-Lymphocyte, Cytotoxic
D013759 Dronabinol A psychoactive compound extracted from the resin of Cannabis sativa (marihuana, hashish). The isomer delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is considered the most active form, producing characteristic mood and perceptual changes associated with this compound. THC,Tetrahydrocannabinol,delta(9)-THC,9-ene-Tetrahydrocannabinol,Marinol,Tetrahydrocannabinol, (6a-trans)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, (6aR-cis)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, (6aS-cis)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, Trans-(+-)-Isomer,Tetrahydrocannabinol, Trans-Isomer,delta(1)-THC,delta(1)-Tetrahydrocannabinol,delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol,9 ene Tetrahydrocannabinol,Tetrahydrocannabinol, Trans Isomer
D051379 Mice The common name for the genus Mus. Mice, House,Mus,Mus musculus,Mice, Laboratory,Mouse,Mouse, House,Mouse, Laboratory,Mouse, Swiss,Mus domesticus,Mus musculus domesticus,Swiss Mice,House Mice,House Mouse,Laboratory Mice,Laboratory Mouse,Mice, Swiss,Swiss Mouse,domesticus, Mus musculus

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