Cannabinoids and Viral Infections

Abstract

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 Ca2+ activity by cannabinoids, increased viral replication and disease. This review examines the effect(s) of cannabinoids and their antagonists in viral infections.

Two non-psychoactive cannabinoids reduce intracellular lipid levels and inhibit hepatosteatosis

“…AMPK-mediated modulation of hepatic lipid metabolism has medical significance beyond the treatment of the metabolic syndrome. CB1 blockade-induced activation of AMPK inhibits hepatitis C virus production in infected HuH-7 heptatoma cells [25], indicating that THCV and CBD may have clinical applications for the treatment of hepatitis, in direct opposition to increased disease severity associated with chronic smoking of recreational cannabis, which is usually rich in THC, but has often low amounts of THCV and CBD [26].…”

Effects of cannabinoids and their receptors on viral infections

“…Induction of CB1 receptors during viral infections in neuronal cells could activate the MAPK cascade, phosphorylate ERK, and decrease cellular Ca 2+ concentrations. This would impair Ca 2+ dependent enzymes, pro‐inflammatory mediators, NOS‐1 activity, and NO production, which are essential for development of host responses to viral infections and suppress anti‐viral responses [Herrera et al, ; Reiss, ; Liu, ]. Beside the therapeutic and neuroprotective character of CB1 receptor activation in neuronal cells in response to neuroinflammatory or neurodegenerative disease [Rom and Persidsky, 2013], activation of these receptors could have important implications for the pathogenesis of viruses affecting the CNS.…”

“…The immunosuppressant effects of cannabinoids could be detrimental for certain viral infections, but in those where host inflammatory and immune responses are associated with virus immunopathogenesis activation of CB receptors, could control viral pathogenesis [Reiss, ]. Viral pathogenesis decreased during activation of CB receptors in BDV [Solbrig and Hermanowicz, ], TMEV [Molina‐Holgado et al, ], SIV [Molina et al, ,], and influenza [Karmaus et al, ].…”

Differential effects of self-reported lifetime marijuana use on interleukin-1 alpha and tumor necrosis factor in African American adults

“…Specifically, researchers have begun to explore the relationship between marijuana use and immune function (Baldwin et al, 1997; Roth, Baldwin, & Tashkin, 2002). However, the vast majority of this literature focus is at the cellular level, which posits marijuana’s immunosuppressive effects on innate immunity (Reiss, 2010; Ribeiro et al, 2012). To date, very few studies have examined the recreational use of marijuana and its relationship with proinflammatory cytokines at the public health or epidemiological level.…”