Acute inflammation and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection: Cannabidiol as a potential anti-inflammatory treatment?

Cannabis for COVID-19: Can Cannabinoids Quell the Cytokine Storm?

“…This ECS-mediated immunosuppression includes cytokine suppression, inhibition of immune cell proliferation, migration and antibody production, and allows the ECS to exert control of viral pathogenesis [ 14 ]. With a seemingly increasing global acceptance for the use of cannabinoid formulations in medicine [ 10 ], it has been hypothesized that cannabinoid receptors [ 8 , 9 , 14 ] could be therapeutic targets in the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, it is of interest to determine whether cannabinoids can quell the inflammatory cytokine release by SARS-Cov-2 and reduce the mortality caused by COVID-19.…”

“…COVID-19 is transmitted by airborne droplets and aerosols, or from fomites into host cells of infected individuals by using the spike protein to bind onto the ACE2R on the surfaces of human cells [ 4 , 8 ]. The respiratory cells are a gateway into the lungs as ground zero, and extend to cells of other organs using ACE2Rs in the throat, heart and blood vessels, kidney, gut, liver and brain [ 4 , 8 ]. Once inside, these cells replicate the virus to produce more SARS-CoV-2, disrupting, provoking and activating immune response.…”

“…Infected patients may be symptomatic or asymptomatic and the severity of COVID-19 varies with age, genetics, individual exposomes, ethnicity and pre-existing health status [ 15 , 16 ]. As we have learned more about the high transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2, we have seen that variable mild symptoms appear between 2 days and 2 weeks after exposure with fever, cough, fatigue, dyspnea, loss of smell and taste, vomiting and diarrhea [ 4 , 8 , 16 ], and all dependent on the individual’s exposome [ 2 ]. Genetic differences in an individual’s immune system may also be linked to the severity and progression of COVID-19 [ 4 , 16 ].…”

“…They are both zoonotic diseases with different mode of transmission, with no vaccine or cure yet; however, there is an effective antiretroviral therapy for AIDS [ 5 , 6 ]. Furthermore, cannabis and cannabinoids have been proposed and used as adjunctive treatment for AIDS-associated cachexia, and in reduction of disease symptoms [ 7 , 8 ]. The processes of inflammation are important in both the pathogenesis of AIDS and COVID-19 [ 6 , 8 ].…”

Could Cannabidiol Be a Treatment for Coronavirus Disease-19-Related Anxiety Disorders?

“…There are currently nearly 100 registered trials investigating CBD, of which 21 are phase 3 (relevant patients in large numbers), covering chronic back pain, postsurgical pain, anxiety disorders, infantile spasms, Rett Syndrome, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, bipolar depression, degenerative hallux disorders, and Fragile X syndrome. Recently, some researchers have speculated that CBD might be useful as an antiviral 9 or anti-inflammatory 10,11 agent in the current coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19)/coronavirus pandemic, as well as being capable of downregulating the expression of key receptors (ACE2 and TMPRSS2) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in human epithelial cells. 12 It has also been postulated that CBD might inhibit the development of pulmonary fibrosis in COVID-19 patients.…”