Discipline: Chemistry and Chemical Sciences
Subcategory: Biochemistry (not Cell and Molecular Biology and Genetics)
Allison Black - North Carolina Central University
Co-Author(s): Dr. Somnah Mukhopadhyay, North Carolina Central University Najah Salleh, North Carolina Central University
BV2 microglial cells derived from mice brains were used to study the effects of cannabinoids and ethanol on neural inflammation. Three genes were chosen to measure inflammatory response, High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1), Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts (RAGE), TNF-alpha (Tumor necrosis factor alpha), and Beta-Actin (control). Irregular expression levels of these genes are associated with neurodegenerative diseases such as include Alzheimer’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson?s Disease. The experiment involved using Cell Culture techniques followed by quantitative real time-PCR. It was found that the cells treated with ethanol caused elevated levels of HMGB1 expression (about three times the amount of the vehicle). The cells treated with cannabinoid agonists caused elevated levels of HMGB1 expression (about twice the amount the vehicle). A combination treatment of both ethanol and cannabinoids raised levels of HMGB1 expression (about 7 times the amount of the vehicle). The decrease in gene expression for TNF-alpha was comparable for ethanol and cannabinoids; both expressed about one third the amount of the vehicle. When combined together, ethanol and cannabinoids produce a synergistic effect, meaning that together, they produce a greater fold change together than individually (about half the amount of the vehicle). These cells serve as a model for how humans are affect when they consume alcohol and smoke marijuana.
Funder Acknowledgement(s): NSF-1238547
Faculty Advisor: Dr. Somnah Mukhopadhyay, smukhopadhyay@nccu.edu
Role: Cell Culture Tun Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction RNA Isolation Result interpreatation