Δ(8)-THC Induces Up-Regulation of Glutamatergic Pathway Genes in Differentiated SH-SY5Y: A Transcriptomic Study

Cannabinoids, natural or synthetic, have antidepressant, anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and anti-psychotic properties. Cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9)-THC) are the most studied cannabinoids, but recently, attention has turned towards minor cannabinoids. Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(8)-THC), an isomer of Δ(9)-THC, is a compound for which, to date, there is no evidence of its role in the modulation of synaptic pathways. The aim of our work was to evaluate the effects of Δ(8)-THC on differentiated SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Using next generation sequencing (NGS), we investigated whether Δ(8)-THC could modify the transcriptomic profile of genes involved in synapse functions. Our results showed that Δ(8)-THC upregulates the expression of genes involved in the glutamatergic pathway and inhibits gene expression at cholinergic synapses. Conversely, Δ(8)-THC did not modify the transcriptomic profile of genes involved in the GABAergic and dopaminergic pathways.