Possible Interaction: Arachidonic Acid and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

“Incubation of cultured cells with anandamide or THC causes increased arachidonic acid release and eicosanoid biosynthesis.”

“Because THC is known to affect arachidonic acid metabolism in non-lymphoid cells and because arachidonic acid metabolites are important regulators of the immune response, a detailed examination of the effects of THC on arachidonic acid metabolism in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was performed.”

“Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), platelet-activating factor (PAF) and cannabinoids such as Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and anandamide were all found to be agonists for the release of AA and led to increased ANA synthesis in RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells.”

“Furthermore, treatment of neurons with THC stimulated a significant increase in the release of arachidonic acid.”

“Taken together, these findings suggest that THC mobilizes AA by inhibiting acylation of certain lipids with AA, particularly phosphatidylinositol and triacylglycerol, rather than by liberating fatty acids by lipolysis.”

“We reported earlier that delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol THC ), the main psychoactive ingredient in marihuana, increased markedly the level of unesterified arachidonic acid (AA) in guinea pig cerebral cortex slices prelabeled with [14C]AA.”

“Several studies have shown that the major psychoactive component in marihuana, (-)-(trans)-delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), increases the level of unesterified arachidonic acid (AA) in non-neural cells in culture.”

“In acinar cells simultaneously prelabeled with [3H]arachidonic acid and [32P]Pi, THC (1-20 microM) produced a concentration-dependent increase in free [3H]arachidonic acid release and a reduction in the steady state levels of [32P]Ptd-Ins4,5P2.”

“In the present study, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was utilized to raise endogenous levels of arachidonic acid.”

“These findings are in agreement with reports showing that THC can mobilize phospholipid bound arachidonic acid , leading to the production of other eicosanoids.”