# Impact of THC on Extracellular Vesicle Signaling

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE · 2021 · $13,997

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Given the recent increase in cannabis use in the US, there is an urgent need to more clearly understand the
effects of cannabinoids on central and peripheral signaling mechanisms. The main psychoactive component in
cannabis, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has been shown to act directly on the cannabinoid receptors. These
receptors are expressed in both central and peripheral cellular populations that have been shown to secrete
extracellular vesicles, including the choroid plexus, neurons, glia, and adipocytes. The main goals of this
proposal are to investigate the effects of THC on extracellular vesicle signaling in the brain and blood and to
identify a panel of biomarkers related to THC use. To further validate the selectivity of the biomarker profile, RNA
expression patterns will be compared in the presence of another drug commonly co-used with cannabis, nicotine.
Thereafter, we will determine whether THC's effects on extracellular vesicle density and RNA cargo can be
attributed to release from dopaminergic cells in the ventral tegmental area, a brain region shown to mediate the
reinforcing and rewarding properties of drugs of abuse. By systematically examining changes in extracellular
vesicle signaling with THC exposure and relating to drug co-use conditions, these studies seek to reveal
important insights into central and peripheral extracellular signaling dynamics. Further, given that peripheral
miRNAs have been proposed as biomarkers of disease state, and THC-containing cannabinoids are often used
by patients, such as individuals with cancer, findings may further inform on the relevance of other proposed
biomarker profiles for clinical applications. Finally, with this foundation, cannabinoid-associated extracellular
signaling factors may also lead to the identification of extracellular mechanisms underlying drug dependence
and thus potential novel targets for therapeutic development to treat dependence.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10398409
- **Project number:** 3R01DA051831-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-IRVINE
- **Principal Investigator:** CHRISTIE D FOWLER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $13,997
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-06-15 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10398409

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10398409, Impact of THC on Extracellular Vesicle Signaling (3R01DA051831-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10398409. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*