Inhibition of an equilibrative nucleoside transporter by cannabidiol: a mechanism of cannabinoid immunosuppression

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2006 May 16;103(20):7895-900. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0511232103. Epub 2006 May 3.

Abstract

The plant-derived cannabinoids delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) both have immunosuppressive effects; although some effects of THC are mediated by the CB2 receptor, CB2 binds CBD weakly. In examining the effects of THC and CBD on microglial proliferation, we found that these compounds potently inhibit [3H]thymidine incorporation into a murine microglial cell line with no effect on cell cycle. Treatment with THC and CBD decreased [3H]thymidine uptake into microglia, with IC50 values that match inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA. CBD and, less potently, THC decreased uptake of [3H]adenosine to a similar extent as [3H]thymidine in both murine microglia and RAW264.7 macrophages. Binding studies confirm that CBD binds to the equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 with a Ki < 250 nM. Because adenosine agonists have antiinflammatory effects, and because uptake of adenosine is a primary mechanism of terminating adenosine signaling, we tested the hypothesis that CBD is immunosuppressive because it enhances endogenous adenosine signaling. In vivo treatment with a low dose of CBD decreases TNFalpha production in lipopolysaccharide-treated mice; this effect is reversed with an A2A adenosine receptor antagonist and abolished in A2A receptor knockout mice. These studies demonstrate that CBD has the ability to enhance adenosine signaling through inhibition of uptake and provide a non-cannabinoid receptor mechanism by which CBD can decrease inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Camphanes / metabolism
  • Cannabidiol / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Dronabinol / metabolism*
  • Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter 1
  • Immunosuppression Therapy*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Microglia / cytology
  • Microglia / metabolism
  • Nucleoside Transport Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Nucleoside Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Piperidines / metabolism
  • Psychotropic Drugs / metabolism*
  • Pyrazoles / metabolism
  • Rimonabant
  • Thymidine / metabolism*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Camphanes
  • Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter 1
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Nucleoside Transport Proteins
  • Piperidines
  • Psychotropic Drugs
  • Pyrazoles
  • SLC29A1 protein, mouse
  • SR 144528
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Cannabidiol
  • Dronabinol
  • DNA
  • Adenosine
  • Rimonabant
  • Thymidine