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Marihuana and the Immune System

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Book cover Marihuana and Medicine

Abstract

Marihuana has been shown to decrease host resistance to bacterial, protozoan, and viral infections in experimental animal models and in vitro systems. Recent immuno epidemiological studies suggest that marihuana may also influence the outcome of viral infections in humans. The main substance in marihuana that exerts these immuno depressive effects is its major psychoactive constituent Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This cannabinoid alters the function of an array of immune cells including lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and macrophages, thereby affecting their capacity to exert anti microbial activities. Two modes of action by which THC affects immune responsiveness have been proposed. At sites such as the lung that are subject to exposure to high concentrations of THC and other cannabinoids contained in marihuana smoke, THC may alter cellular membranes because of its highly lipophilic nature. In contrast, at sites distal to the lung, THC at relatively low concentrations may exert its suppressive effects on immune cells by interacting with cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2. No controlled longitudinal epidemiological studies have yet correlated the immunosuppressive effects of Cannabis smoke on the incidence of infections or viral disease in different segments of the population.

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Authors
  1. Guy A. Cabral
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, New York University School of Medicine, USA

    Gabriel G. Nahas MD, PhD, DSc  & Kenneth M. Sutin MD, MS  & 

  2. Department of Biochemistry, Oxford University, USA

    David Harvey PhD

  3. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Uppsala, Sweden

    Stig Agurell PhD, PharmD, DSc

  4. NYU School of Medicine, USA

    Nicholas Pace MD  & Robert Cancro MD  & 

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Cabral, G.A. (1999). Marihuana and the Immune System. In: Nahas, G.G., Sutin, K.M., Harvey, D., Agurell, S., Pace, N., Cancro, R. (eds) Marihuana and Medicine. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-710-9_32

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-710-9_32

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-5717-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-710-9

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