Cannabis and Inflammation in HIV: A Review of Human and Animal Studies

Ellis, Ronald J.; Wilson, Natalie; Peterson, Scott N.

doi:10.3390/v13081521

Cited by 20 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 131 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The use of cannabis is highly prevalent in people living with HIV (PLWH), with cannabis use being reported to be 2-3 times higher than use among the general US population (Whit eld et al, 1997; Cristiani et al, 2004;Pacek et al, 2018;Ellis et al, 2021). Besides recreational use, PLWH report using cannabis to alleviate HIV-related symptoms, such as pain, anxiety, stress, nausea, and loss of appetite (Woolridge et al, 2005;Shiau et al, 2017;Costiniuk et al, 2019;Wardell et al, 2022).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of acute Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol on behavior and the endocannabinoid system in HIV-1 Tat transgenic female and male mice

Yadav-Samudrala

Gorman

Dodson

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cannabis use is highly prevalent especially among people living with HIV (PLWH). Activation of the anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective endocannabinoid system by phytocannabinoids, i.e. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), has been proposed to reduce HIV symptoms. However, THC’s effects on HIV-associated cognitive impairments are unclear. Using HIV-1 Tat transgenic mice, the current study investigates acute THC effects on various behavioral outcomes and the endocannabinoid system. Minor or no effects of THC doses (1, 3, 10 mg/kg) were noted for body mass, body temperature, locomotor activity, and coordination, but spontaneous nociception was significantly decreased, with Tat induction increasing antinociceptive THC effects. Anxiogenic effects of THC (10 mg/kg) were demonstrated in Tat(−) females and males compared to vehicle-treated mice, with overall increased anxiety-like behavior in females compared to males. Object recognition memory was diminished by acute THC (10 mg/kg) injections in Tat(−) but not Tat(+) females, without affecting males. For the endocannabinoid system and related lipids, no effects were noted for acute THC, but female sex and Tat induction was associated with elevated 2-AG, AEA, AA, CB1R, CB2R, FAAH and/or MAGL expression in various CNS regions. Further, females demonstrated higher AEA levels compared to males in most CNS structures, and AEA levels in the prefrontal cortex of Tat(+) females were negatively associated with recognition memory. Overall, findings indicate that acute THC exposure exerts differential effects on behavior in the context of neuroHIV dependent on sex, potentially due to an altered endocannabinoid system, which may be of relevance in view of potential cannabis-based treatment options for PLWH.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of acute Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol on behavior and the endocannabinoid system in HIV-1 Tat transgenic female and male mice

Yadav-Samudrala

Gorman

Dodson

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…56 Research in this area suggests that cannabinoids are anti-inflammatory in the setting of HIV through the effect of the endocannabinoid system in the gut and through stabilization of gut-blood barrier integrity. 57 Fulcher et al revealed that MJ use in HIV patients is positively correlated with the increase of Fusobacterium and Anaerotruncus and negatively associated with the decrease in the abundance of Dorea organism. 47 Typically, MJ users in HIV patients engage in higher-risk sexual conduct or practices leading to bacterial vaginosis (BV) which is found to be characterized by the lack of Lactobacilli and the overgrowth of facultative anaerobic organisms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cannabis-Microbiome Interactions in Varied Clinical Contexts: A Comprehensive Systematic Review

Thu

Ondee

Hall

et al. 2023

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Cannabis is being legalized in many countries for therapeutic and recreational purposes. The cannabinoid compounds are mainly involved in the host metabolism under the endocannabinoid system, and they regulate the intestinal microbiota via an immunomodulatory mechanism leading to obtaining positive effects on the gastrointestinal and immunological systems. Objective: The review is to systematically evaluate their association and the impact of the microbiome on cannabis treatment to support further clinical trials. Methods: Utilizing online sources like PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) in The Cochrane Library, a literature search was carried out up to July 20, 2022. The search was restricted to adults with clinical abnormalities and the use of English. An examination of predetermined subgroups under various disease conditions was carried out. The data was combined quantitatively. Result: The study comprised 9 studies with 2526 participants; two were clinical trials and the others were observational studies. One significant factor influencing microbiota variation was marijuana (MJ) usage [R2=0.01, p=0.14]. In HIV patients who used MJ, there were elevated levels of Fusobacterium and Anaerotruncus and lower concentrations of Dorea. The genus Rothia was dominant, but Capnocytophaga, Fusobacterium, and Porphyromonas were low at the tongue site, whereas high Selenomonas and low Streptococcus were detected at the oral pharynx region in MJ users in oral cancer patients. Following cannabis use, Lactobacilli and S. mutan were increased in patients with musculoskeletal discomfort. Increases in the circulation of endocannabinoids are associated with an increase in SCFA-producing bacteria and a decrease in the proinflammatory species Collinsella in patients with knee arthritis. Lower Prevotella:Bacteroides ratios were more frequently linked to higher lifetime MJ consumption in those with cognitive impairments (p=0.052). Increased PEA excretion correlated with decreased microbial diversity, which caused anhedonia/amotivation to worsen. A. muciniphila was substantially more prevalent in obese patients after OEA administration. Conclusion: Data from a systematic review suggest that cannabis usage and supplementation of medical cannabis in a variety of clinical problems had links with altering the human microbiome on gut, oral, rectal, and vaginal discharge. It must be taken into consideration in future research on the therapeutic effects of cannabis on patients.

show abstract

“…Although mostly based on non-randomized studies with no comparators, a recent systematic review also shows that using cannabis by patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) improves pain and sleep and is associated with reduced overall PTSD symptoms and reports of a better quality of life [31,32]. Likewise, cannabis provides a beneficial intervention for reducing inflammation-related morbidity in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients [33], also improving muscle and nerve pain, and may also assist with depression [34][35][36]. In multiple sclerosis patients, cannabis reduces spasticity compared to placebo [37][38][39].…”

Section: Neuropathic Neurological and Hiv-related Symptomsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“The Two Sides of the Same Coin”—Medical Cannabis, Cannabinoids and Immunity: Pros and Cons Explained

Khoury

Bar‐Sela

2022

Pharmaceutics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cannabis, as a natural medicinal remedy, has long been used for palliative treatment to alleviate the side effects caused by diseases. Cannabis-based products isolated from plant extracts exhibit potent immunoregulatory properties, reducing chronic inflammatory processes and providing much needed pain relief. They are a proven effective solution for treatment-based side effects, easing the resulting symptoms of the disease. However, we discuss the fact that cannabis use may promote the progression of a range of malignancies, interfere with anti-cancer immunotherapy, or increase susceptibility to viral infections and transmission. Most cannabis preparations or isolated active components cause an overall potent immunosuppressive impact among users, posing a considerable hazard to patients with suppressed or compromised immune systems. In this review, current knowledge and perceptions of cannabis or cannabinoids and their impact on various immune-system components will be discussed as the “two sides of the same coin” or “double-edged sword”, referring to something that can have both favorable and unfavorable consequences. We propose that much is still unknown about adverse reactions to its use, and its integration with medical treatment should be conducted cautiously with consideration of the individual patient, effector cells, microenvironment, and the immune system.

show abstract

Cannabis and Inflammation in HIV: A Review of Human and Animal Studies

Cited by 20 publications

References 131 publications

Effects of acute Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol on behavior and the endocannabinoid system in HIV-1 Tat transgenic female and male mice

Effects of acute Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol on behavior and the endocannabinoid system in HIV-1 Tat transgenic female and male mice

Cannabis-Microbiome Interactions in Varied Clinical Contexts: A Comprehensive Systematic Review

“The Two Sides of the Same Coin”—Medical Cannabis, Cannabinoids and Immunity: Pros and Cons Explained

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About