Study: THC can Prevent Inflammation Induced by Airway Diseases
A new study published in the journal Biochemical Pharmacology, and epublished ahead of print by the National Institute of Health, has found that THC – a compound found in cannabis – is beneficial in preventing inflammation caused by various airway diseases such as bronchitis and emphysema.
“Despite pharmacological treatment, bronchial hyperresponsiveness continues to deteriorate as airway remodelling persists in airway inflammation”, states researchers. “Previous studies have demonstrated that the phytocannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) reverses bronchoconstriction with an anti-inflammatory action. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of THC on bronchial epithelial cell permeability after exposure to the pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNFα.”
For the study; “Calu-3 bronchial epithelial cells were cultured at air-liquid interface. Changes in epithelial permeability were measured using transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), then confirmed with a paracellular permeability assay and expression of tight junction proteins by Western blotting.”
Researchers found that treatment with THC “prevented the TNFα-induced decrease in TEER and increase in paracellular permeability.”
The study concludes; “These data indicate that THC prevents cytokine-induced increase in airway epithelial permeability through CB2 receptor activation. This highlights that THC, or other cannabinoid receptor ligands, could be beneficial in the prevention of inflammation-induced changes in airway epithelial cell permeability, an important feature of airways diseases.”
The full study, conducted at the University of Nottingham, can be found by clicking here.