In HIV, Cannabis May Alleviate Inflammation

Cannabis use may help reduce systemic inflammation and immune activation in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who are treated with antiretroviral therapy (ART), according to new study findings.

For their study, the researchers assessed 198 ART-treated individuals with HIV via flow cytometry. Mass spectrometry was used to determine the amount of the cannabis metabolite 11-nor-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) present in the plasma, and patients were subsequently categorized based on heavy, medium, or occasional cannabis use, or non-use.
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Results showed that human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR+CD38+CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell frequencies were lower in heavy cannabis users compared with non-users.

Furthermore, heavy cannabis users were also found to have lower frequencies of intermediate and nonclassical monocyte subsets and interleukin 23- and tumor necrosis factor-α-producing antigen-presenting cells compared with non-users.

“While the clinical implications are unclear, our findings suggest that cannabis use is associated with a potentially beneficial reduction in systemic inflammation and immune activation in the context of antiretroviral-treated HIV infection,” the researchers concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Manuzak JA, Gott TM, Kirkwood JS, et al. Heavy cannabis use associated with reduction in activated and inflammatory immune cell frequencies in antiretroviral therapy-treated human immunodeficiency virus-infected individuals [Published online February 17, 2018]. Clin Infect Dis. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/cix1116.