Medical cannabis and the immune system

The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against infection and disease. Cannabis-based treatments have been found to interact with the immune system, with the potential to modulate immune function and reduce inflammation.

Endocannabinoid System and Immune Function

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a complex network of receptors, endocannabinoids, and enzymes that play a key role in regulating many physiological processes, including immune function. The ECS is composed of two primary receptors, CB1 and CB2, which are located throughout the body, including in immune cells.

Activation of CB1 and CB2 receptors by endocannabinoids or cannabinoids from the cannabis plant can have a range of effects on immune function. CB2 receptors, in particular, are highly expressed in immune cells and have been found to play a key role in modulating immune function.

Cannabinoids and Immune Function

Studies have found that cannabinoids, including THC and CBD, can interact with the immune system in a number of ways. For example, THC has been found to suppress immune function by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines.

CBD, on the other hand, has been found to have immunomodulatory effects, meaning that it can both increase and decrease immune function depending on the context. CBD has been found to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and to reduce the migration of immune cells to areas of inflammation.

Medical Cannabis and Immune Function

Given the potential effects of cannabinoids on immune function, medical cannabis has been studied as a potential treatment for a range of immune-related conditions, including multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, and HIV/AIDS.

In a study published in the Journal of Neuroimmunology in 2010, researchers found that THC reduced inflammation and improved symptoms in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. In a clinical trial published in the European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology in 2013, researchers found that cannabis-based treatments reduced inflammation and improved symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

While the evidence for the use of medical cannabis for immune-related conditions is promising, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis-based treatments for immune function.

Side Effects

While cannabis-based treatments for immune-related conditions have been found to be generally well-tolerated, they can have side effects in some patients. The most commonly reported side effects of THC include dizziness, dry mouth, and changes in mood or perception. Additionally, THC can interact with some medications, including sedatives and benzodiazepines, which can lead to increased sedation and potential adverse effects. For this reason, it is important for patients to discuss the use of cannabis-based treatments with their healthcare provider.

CBD, on the other hand, is generally well-tolerated and has few side effects. However, it can interact with some medications, including blood thinners, which can lead to an increased risk of bleeding.

Conclusion

Medical cannabis has shown promising results as a potential treatment for immune-related conditions, with the potential to modulate immune function and reduce inflammation. However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis-based treatments for immune function.

It is important for patients to discuss the use of cannabis-based treatments with their healthcare provider and to be aware of the potential risks and side effects associated with these treatments. With continued research and development, medical cannabis may play an increasingly important role in the management of immune-related conditions in the future.

Research on medical cannabis and the immune system

1. Immune Responses Regulated by Cannabidiol

Abstract

Introduction: Cannabidiol (CBD) as Epidiolex® (GW Pharmaceuticals) was recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat rare forms of epilepsy in patients 2 years of age and older. Together with the increased societal acceptance of recreational cannabis and CBD oil for putative medical use in many states, the exposure to CBD is increasing, even though all of its biological effects are not understood. Once such example is the ability of CBD to be anti-inflammatory and immune suppressive, so the purpose of this review is to summarize effects and mechanisms of CBD in the immune system. It includes a consideration of reports identifying receptors through which CBD acts, since the “CBD receptor,” if a single one exists, has not been definitively identified for the myriad immune system effects. The review then provides a summary of in vivo and in vitro effects in the immune system, in autoimmune models, with a focus on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and ends with identification of knowledge gaps.

Conclusion: Overall, the data overwhelmingly support the notion that CBD is immune suppressive and that the mechanisms involve direct suppression of activation of various immune cell types, induction of apoptosis, and promotion of regulatory cells, which, in turn, control other immune cell targets.

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2. Endocannabinoids and the Immune System in Health and Disease

Abstract

Endocannabinoids are bioactive lipids that have the potential to signal through cannabinoid receptors to modulate the functional activities of a variety of immune cells. Their activation of these seven-transmembranal, G protein-coupled receptors sets in motion a series of signal transductional events that converge at the transcriptional level to regulate cell migration and the production of cytokines and chemokines. There is a large body of data that supports a functional relevance for 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) as acting through the cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R) to inhibit migratory activities for a diverse array of immune cell types. However, unequivocal data that supports a functional linkage of anandamide (AEA) to a cannabinoid receptor in immune modulation remains to be obtained. Endocannabinoids, as typical bioactive lipids, have a short half-life and appear to act in an autocrine and paracrine fashion. Their immediate effective action on immune function may be at localized sites in the periphery and within the central nervous system. It is speculated that endocannabinoids play an important role in maintaining the overall “fine-tuning” of the immune homeostatic balance within the host.

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3. Cannabinoids and the immune system: An overview

Abstract

Cannabinoids can influence the immune network. Data on the impact of exogenous cannabinoid ligands on immune function serve not only to understand how the endocannabinoid system modulates immune phenomena associated with infection or inflammation, but also to identify therapeutic targets for immune diseases. Cannabinoids can modulate immune reactions in the periphery but also in the brain, influence T cell subset balance and cytokine expression and play a role in the balance between neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. Immune cells can synthesize endocannabinoids and also be influenced by cannabinoid analogues. Cannabinoid receptors show different expression on immune cells depending on activation status and stimuli. The complexity of relation between cannabinoid ligands of various classes and cannabinoid receptors brought the need to refine the simple conceptual frame of agonist–antagonists and offered potential implications for understanding interactions in pathological conditions. The immune influence of cannabinoid ligands is not fully elucidated. However, aspects of their immunomodulatory effects provide the basis for a context-dependent targeted therapeutic approach, thus leading to the possibility for the use of cannabinoids in the treatment of inflammatory disease.

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4. Cannabinoids and the immune system: Potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases?

Abstract

Since the discovery of the cannabinoid receptors and their endogenous ligands, significant advances have been made in studying the physiological function of the endocannabinoid system. The presence of cannabinoid receptors on cells of the immune system and anecdotal and historical evidence suggesting that cannabis use has potent immuno-modulatory effects, has led to research directed at understanding the function and role of these receptors within the context of immunological cellular function. Studies from chronic cannabis smokers have provided much of the evidence for immunomodulatory effects of cannabis in humans, and animal and in vitro studies of immune cells such as T cells and macrophages have also provided important evidence. Cannabinoids can modulate both the function and secretion of cytokines from immune cells. Therefore, cannabinoids may be considered for treatment of inflammatory disease. This review article will highlight recent research on cannabinoids and how they interact with the immune system and also their potential use as therapeutic agents for a number of inflammatory disorders.

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