Combined immunomodulating properties of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and cannabis in humans

  1. Roberta Pacifici1,
  2. Piergiorgio Zuccaro1,
  3. Magí Farré2,3,
  4. Sandra Poudevida2,
  5. Sergio Abanades2,3,
  6. Simona Pichini1,
  7. Klaus Langohr2,
  8. Jordi Segura2,4,
  9. Rafael De La Torre2,4,*

Article first published online: 22 MAY 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01805.x

Issue

Addiction

Addiction

Volume 102, Issue 6, pages 931–936, June 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

Pacifici, R., Zuccaro, P., Farré, M., Poudevida, S., Abanades, S., Pichini, S., Langohr, K., Segura, J. and De La Torre, R. (2007), Combined immunomodulating properties of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and cannabis in humans. Addiction, 102: 931–936. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.01805.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Dipartimento del Farmaco, Istituto Superiore di Sanitá (ISS), Rome, Italy,

  2. 2

    Pharmacology Unit, Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain,

  3. 3

    Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain and

  4. 4

    Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain

*Rafael de la Torre, Pharmacology Unit, Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica (IMIM), Doctor Aiguader 8, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain. E-mail: rtorre@imim.es

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 22 MAY 2007
  2. Article first published online: 22 MAY 2007
  3. Submitted 29 March 2006; initial review completed 15 June 2006; final version accepted 11 January 2007

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Keywords:

  • Cannabis;
  • immune function;
  • infections;
  • MDMA

ABSTRACT

Aims  Cell-mediated immune function and the occurrence of mild infectious diseases was investigated.

Participants  Polydrug consumers of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and cannabis (n = 37) compared to cannabis users only (n = 23) and control group (n = 34).

Design  A longitudinal prospective study with three cross-sectional evaluations at time 0 and at 6 months and 1 year was performed.

Findings  At baseline, a significant decrease in interleukin (IL)-2 and an increase in anti-inflammatory transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, together with a decrease in the number of total lymphocytes, CD4 and natural killer (NK) cells were observed in the MDMA–cannabis group, with intermediate alterations in the cannabis group. Immune alterations observed at baseline were sustained over time. No differences were found between regular and occasional MDMA users. A significantly higher rate of mild infections in regular MDMA–cannabis users compared with occasional MDMA–cannabis users and the remaining groups was observed.

Conclusions  The present data confirm that long-term alterations in immunological homeostasis may result in general health status impairment and subsequent increased susceptibility to infection and immune-related disorders.

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