Tau protein after delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in a human neuroblastoma cell line

Abstract

1. 1. A human neuroblastoma cell line, SH-SY5Y, was used to determine the effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on microtubule-associated tau protein. 2. 2. After 48-hr treatment, THC (10 −9 M) decreased 50 kD tau protein in the cytoplasmic (supernatant) fraction, and in the membrane (pellet) fraction the drug (10 −7 M) also decreased 50 kD tau protein. 3. 3. This reduction in tau protein was accompanied by a 27% reduction ( P<0.05) in the membrane (pellet) total protein after (10 −7 M) THC and a 28% increase ( P<0.02) in cytoplasmic (supernatant) total protein after 10 −9 M THC.