biostudies-literatureUnknown24(1)Plank ACCarl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg<h4>Background</h4>Experimental studies indicate that phytocannabinoids have immune-modulatory properties. However, the effects of chronic cannabis use (CCU) in adolescents on their immune cells have been scarcely investigated to date, although CCU is increasingly observed in this age group.<h4>Methods</h4>In this study, we analyzed DNA methylation and gene expression of immune cell markers in whole-blood samples of adolescent CCU-outpatients and non-cannabis-using (NCU) controls (n = 14 vs. n = 15, mean age = 16.1 ± 1.3 years). Site-specific DNA methylation values were used to calculate A) proportion estimates of circulating white blood cell (WBC) types and B) mean DNA methylation values of common immune cell markers (CD4, CD8A, CD19, FCGR3A, CD14, FUT4, MPO), whose gene expression levelsBMC psychiatry676https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11468367biostudies-literatureDNA methylation and gene expression of immune cell markers in adolescents with chronic cannabis use: an exploratory study.PMC11468367Kuitunen-Paul SFranzen JPlank ACPerez-Correa JFWiedmann MWagner WGolub YIoannidis CRoessner VMirtschink PfalseDNA methylation and gene expression of immune cell markers in adolescents with chronic cannabis use: an exploratory study.<h4>Background</h4>Experimental studies indicate that phytocannabinoids have immune-modulatory properties. However, the effects of chronic cannabis use (CCU) in adolescents on their immune cells have been scarcely investigated to date, although CCU is increasingly observed in this age group.<h4>Methods</h4>In this study, we analyzed DNA methylation and gene expression of immune cell markers in whole-blood samples of adolescent CCU-outpatients and non-cannabis-using (NCU) controls (n = 14 vs. n = 15, mean age = 16.1 ± 1.3 years). Site-specific DNA methylation values were used to calculate A) proportion estimates of circulating white blood cell (WBC) types and B) mean DNA methylation values of common immune cell markers (CD4, CD8A, CD19, FCGR3A, CD14, FUT4, MPO), whose gene expression levels2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Oct2026-06-13T05:40:20.982Z2025-04-06T12:32:17.323ZS-EPMC114683673939408510.1186/s12888-024-06043-0