Cannabinoids and inflammation: implications for people living with HIV

Thanks to the success of modern antiretroviral therapy (ART), people living with HIV (PLWH) have life expectancies which approach that of persons in the general population. However, despite the ability of ART to suppress viral replication, PLWH have high levels of chronic systemic inflammation which drives the development of comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and non-AIDS associated malignancies. Historically, cannabis has played an important role in alleviating many symptoms experienced by persons with advanced HIV infection in the pre-ART era and continues to be used by many PLWH in the ART era, though for different reasons. Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are the phytocannabinoids, which have received most attention for their medicinal properties. Due to their ability to suppress lymphocyte proliferation and inflammatory cytokine production, there is interest in examining their therapeutic potential as immunomodulators. CB2 receptor activation has been shown in vitro to reduce CD4+ T-cell infection by CXCR4-tropic HIV and to reduce HIV replication. Studies involving SIV-infected macaques have shown that Δ9-THC can reduce morbidity and mortality and has favourable effects on gut mucosal immunity. Furthermore, Δ9-THC administration was associated with reduced lymph node fibrosis and diminished levels of SIV proviral DNA in spleens of rhesus macaques compared with placebo-treated macaques. In humans, cannabis use does not induce ...
Source: AIDS - Category: Infectious Diseases Tags: EDITORIAL REVIEW Source Type: research