title: Cannabidiol (CBD) enhances lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pulmonary inflammation in C57BL/6 mice.
abstract: Cannabidiol (CBD) is a plant-derived cannabinoid that has been predominantly characterized as anti-inflammatory. However, it is clear that immune effects of cannabinoids can vary with cannabinoid concentration, or type or magnitude of immune stimulus. The present studies demonstrate that oral administration of CBD enhanced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pulmonary inflammation in C57BL/6 mice. The enhanced inflammatory cell infiltrate as observed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was comprised mainly of neutrophils, with some monocytes. Concomitantly, CBD enhanced pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA production, including tumor necrosis factor-α (Tnfa), interleukins (IL)-5 and -23 (Il6, Il23), and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (Gcsf). These results demonstrate that the CBD-mediated enhancement of LPS-induced pulmonary inflammation is mediated at the level of transcription of a variety of pro-inflammatory genes. The significance of these studies is that CBD is part of a therapeutic currently in use for spasticity and pain in multiple sclerosis patients, and therefore it is important to further understand mechanisms by which CBD alters immune function.
authors.affiliation: Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors.forename: Peer W F
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Karmaus
authors.forename: James G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Jack R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Harkema
authors.forename: Norbert E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.forename: Barbara L F
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D002185:Cannabidiol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000819:agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000819:agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D009000:Monocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D002185:Cannabidiol