Cannabis May Treat HIV, According to New Study
A new study published in this month’s issue of the journal AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses has found that Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – one of the primary compounds found in cannabis
– may provide an effective, safe and natural treatment for those with HIV.
“Our studies have demonstrated that chronic Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) administration results in a generalized attenuation of viral load and tissue inflammation in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-infected male rhesus macaques”, claims the study’s abstract. “Gut-associated lymphoid tissue is an important site for HIV replication and inflammation that can impact disease progression.”
For the study, researchers “used a systems approach to examine the duodenal immune environment in 4- to 6-year-old male rhesus monkeys inoculated intravenously with SIVMAC251 after 17 months of chronic THC administration (0.18–0.32 mg/kg, intramuscularly, twice daily).”
It was then found that “duodenal tissue samples excised from chronic THC- (N=4) and vehicle (VEH)-treated (N=4) subjects at 5 months postinoculation showed lower viral load, increased duodenal integrin beta 7+(β7) CD4+ and CD8+ central memory T cells, and a significant preferential increase in Th2 cytokine expression.”
Furthermore, researchers were able to note a positive alteration of genes in the animals treated with THC; “Gene array analysis identified six genes that were differentially expressed in intestinal samples of the THC/SIV animals when compared to those differentially expressed between VEH/SIV and uninfected controls. These genes were identified as having significant participation in (1) apoptosis, (2) cell survival, proliferation, and morphogenesis, and (3) energy and substrate metabolic processes.”
They continue; “Additional analysis comparing the duodenal gene expression in THC/SIV vs. VEH/SIV animals identified 93 differentially expressed genes that participate in processes involved in muscle contraction, protein folding, cytoskeleton remodeling, cell adhesion, and cell signaling. Immunohistochemical staining showed attenuated apoptosis in epithelial crypt cells of THC/SIV subjects.”
Researchers conclude that; “Our results indicate that chronic THC administration modulated duodenal T cell populations, favored a pro-Th2 cytokine balance, and decreased intestinal apoptosis. These findings reveal novel mechanisms that may potentially contribute to cannabinoid-mediated disease modulation.”
The study, which was conducted by researchers at the Departments of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Medicine at Louisiana State University, can be found by clicking here.
– TheJointBlog