Evaluation of Oxidant/Antioxidant Status and Cytokine Levels in Patients with Cannabis Use Disorder

Abstract

ObjectiveCannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world and it has several adverse effects such as anxiety, panic reactions and psychotic symptoms. In this study, we aimed to evaluate oxidant, anti-oxidant status and cytokine levels in individuals with cannabis use disorder.MethodsThirty-four patients with cannabis use disorder and 34 healthy controls were enrolled to the study. Serum total antioxidant status, total oxidant status and cytokine levels were investigated in patients with cannabis use disorder and healthy controls.ResultsWe found increased levels of total oxidant status, oxidative stress index and interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α in individuals with cannabis dependency compared to healthy people. When we compared total antioxidant status, IL-12, and interferon (IFN) γ levels, there were no differences in both groups. There was positive correlation between IL-6 and total oxidant status, oxidative stress index levels.ConclusionThe oxidative balance of individuals with cannabis use disorder was impaired and they had higher levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, which is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and indicates increased inflammation compared to healthy controls. Thus, these findings suggest that cannabis increased inflammation and impaired the oxidative balance.

Cannabis Influences the Putative Cytokines-Related Pathway of Epilepsy among Egyptian Epileptic Patients

“…In the second part of the current work, we highlighted the link between epilepsy disease and the influence of cannabis use on inflammatory mediators as a putative mechanism of epilepsy. Although the role of inflammation in patients with epilepsy has been widely debated and partly considered as just an epiphenomenon, resulting from seizure-induced damage to the brain or excessive muscular activity, interestingly, the current findings of elevated levels of the inflammatory cytokines; IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, both in serum and leukocytes gene expression analyses, is in agreement with the previously shown results of elevated cytokines levels in epilepsy patients [1,20,22,40,[56][57][58] and moreover, provides direct clinical evidence that the immune system and cytokines mediators are involved in epilepsy disorder.…”

“…Afterward, the association between cannabis and the immune system has been widely studied, but it remains unclear whether cannabis inhibits or enhances the immune system and whether or not the relation to the immune system could contribute to seizure regulation/dysregulation. This question is raised since cytokines are the central signaling molecules of the immune system, as well as a primary regulator of inflammation, which is one of the putative mechanisms of epilepsy [40].…”

Neuroinflammation in addiction: A review of neuroimaging studies and potential immunotherapies

“…While most evidence supports an anti-inflammatory effect of cannabis, there are reports consistent with pro-inflammatory effects. Individuals with cannabis use disorder show increases in plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) compared to individuals with no history of cannabis use (Bayazit et al, 2017). Neuroinflammatory responses to cannabis may depend on age at initiation of use.…”

Possible association between DNA repair gene variants and cannabis dependence in a Turkish cohort: a pilot study

“…Sarafian et al found that cannabis smoke stimulates the production of reactive oxygen species in human endothelial cells [15]. Bayazit et al reported that the oxidative balance of individuals with cannabis use disorder was impaired [16]. Furthermore, cannabis has about 50% more carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons than cigarette smoke, including examples like naphthalene, benz [a]anthracene, and benzo[a]pyrene [17].…”