Chronic Cannabis Use in Teens Was Linked to Lower B Cell Levels, Hinting at Immune Effects
Adolescents with chronic cannabis use had lower estimated proportions of B cells (immune cells that produce antibodies) compared to non-users, though changes in other immune markers were not significant.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Using DNA methylation analysis of blood samples, chronic cannabis-using adolescents (n=14) had lower estimated B cell proportions compared to non-users (n=15). An initially observed higher granulocyte proportion was attenuated when controlling for tobacco use. Differences in DNA methylation and gene expression of immune markers (CD4, CD8A, CD19, etc.) were not statistically significant.
Key Numbers
14 cannabis users vs 15 controls; mean age 16.1; lower B cell proportion in users; 7 immune markers analyzed (CD4, CD8A, CD19, FCGR3A, CD14, FUT4, MPO); granulocyte difference attenuated by tobacco control
How They Did This
Exploratory cross-sectional study comparing DNA methylation and gene expression of immune cell markers in whole blood from 14 adolescent chronic cannabis users (mean age 16.1) versus 15 non-cannabis-using controls.
Why This Research Matters
This is among the first studies to examine how chronic cannabis use affects the immune system specifically in adolescents, a population where the immune system is still developing. The B cell finding, if confirmed, could have implications for infection susceptibility.
The Bigger Picture
While cannabis's immunomodulatory effects are well-documented in lab studies, evidence of actual immune changes in real-world adolescent users is scarce. This exploratory study opens the door to understanding whether teen cannabis use has functional immune consequences.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Very small sample size (14 vs 15). Exploratory design with multiple comparisons. Cross-sectional. Cannot distinguish cannabis effects from lifestyle or other substance effects. DNA methylation-based cell estimates are indirect.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do lower B cell levels in adolescent cannabis users translate to increased infection susceptibility?
- ?Would these immune changes reverse with cannabis cessation?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Lower B cell proportions found in chronic cannabis-using adolescents
- Evidence Grade:
- Very small exploratory study using indirect immune measurement. Hypothesis-generating only.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2024.
- Original Title:
- DNA methylation and gene expression of immune cell markers in adolescents with chronic cannabis use: an exploratory study.
- Published In:
- BMC psychiatry, 24(1), 676 (2024)
- Authors:
- Plank, Anne-Christine, Wiedmann, Melina(2), Kuitunen-Paul, Sören(3), Wagner, Wolfgang, Perez-Correa, Juan-Felipe, Franzen, Julia, Ioannidis, Charalampos, Mirtschink, Peter, Roessner, Veit, Golub, Yulia
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05631
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does teen cannabis use affect the immune system?
This small study found lower levels of B cells (antibody-producing immune cells) in chronic cannabis-using teens, but the sample was too small to draw firm conclusions.
Could cannabis make teens more susceptible to infections?
The B cell finding raises this possibility, but functional immune testing was not done and the sample was very small. Larger studies are needed.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05631APA
Plank, Anne-Christine; Wiedmann, Melina; Kuitunen-Paul, Sören; Wagner, Wolfgang; Perez-Correa, Juan-Felipe; Franzen, Julia; Ioannidis, Charalampos; Mirtschink, Peter; Roessner, Veit; Golub, Yulia. (2024). DNA methylation and gene expression of immune cell markers in adolescents with chronic cannabis use: an exploratory study.. BMC psychiatry, 24(1), 676. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06043-0
MLA
Plank, Anne-Christine, et al. "DNA methylation and gene expression of immune cell markers in adolescents with chronic cannabis use: an exploratory study.." BMC psychiatry, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-06043-0
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "DNA methylation and gene expression of immune cell markers i..." RTHC-05631. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/plank-2024-dna-methylation-and-gene
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.