Cannabinoids and Viral Infections.
Exogenous cannabinoids or receptor antagonists may influence many cellular and systemic host responses. The anti-inflammatory activity of cannabinoids may compromise host inflammatory responses to acute viral infections, but may be beneficial in persistent infections. In neurons, where innate antiviral/pro-resolution responses include the activation of NOS-1, inhibition of Ca(2+) activity by cannabinoids, increased viral replication and disease. This review examines the effect(s) of cannabinoids and their antagonists in viral infections.
Reiss
Carol Shoshkes
CS
Department of Biology, Center for Neural Science, NYU Cancer Institute and Department of Microbiology, New York University, 100 Washington Square East, New York, NY, 10003, USA; carol.reiss@nyu.edu ; Tel.: +1-212-998-8269;