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New research has found evidence that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), a principal component of marijuana, might be a beneficial treatment for autoimmune disorders.
This may be the first study of its kind to investigate how powerful little molecules referred to as microRNAs are influenced by THC. RNAs are biological molecules which are essential in coding, decoding, regulation and expression of genes. MicroRNAs were only recently discovered and are a kind of non-coding RNAs accountable for regulating gene expression. If THC alters microRNA expression, it could be a vital component for the treatment of multiple autoimmune diseases including arthritis, ms and Type 1 diabetes.
This study was executed through injection of laboratory mice with THC. As many as 609 mice microRNAs were analyzed. Of those, researchers discovered thirteen unique microRNAs that were significantly altered by THC.
MicroRNAs are incredibly essential in the immune system and performance as “brakes” to target over 60 percent of the entire gene expression. Usually microRNAs suppress gene expression however when it becomes over expressed it makes sense gene silence. Conversely, when microRNA is turn off, the specific gene affected becomes expressed in a higher level.
The researchers also studied how miRNA-690, a specific microRNA, functionally targets a vital protein referred to as c/EBPa when over-expressed because of THC interference. The protein molecule has the capacity to trigger the unique cells called MDSC, which have the special ability to suppress inflammation. The results of THC were reversed when miRNA-690 was successfully brought down.
For greater than a decade lead authors Drs. Prakash and Mitzi Nagarkatti have studied the result marijuana has in altering immune function and inflammation. It had been their research that came out marijuana components can trigger MDSC to suppress inflammation.
This current study was completed by Dr. Venkatesh Hegde in conjunction with other associates. They discovered that marijuana can act in counterproductive ways by suppressing inflammation, which increases vulnerability with a diseases but additionally functions as a successful treatment against inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Dr. Mitzi Nagarkatti explained how understanding of micoRNA expression is really a remarkable step in potential medical breakthroughs.
“MicroRNA therapeutics is an important, growing rapidly area with major pharmaceutical companies engaging in this discovery and development,” Nagarkatti said. “While our study identifies the molecular mechanism of immune-altering effects of marijuana, select microRNA identified here could help as important molecular targets to control MDSC activity in cancer and inflammatory diseases.”
