CBD can treat inflammation caused by COVID-19, study says

by druginc

CBD can treat inflammation caused by COVID-19, study says

Researchers have found that CBD reduces inflammation in the lungs of COVID-19 mouse models by increasing levels of the apeline peptide.

In addition to all kinds of running onderzoeken about the promising possibilities in the treatment of COVID-19 with cannabis, points new research found that cannabidiol (CBD) reduces the cytokine storm that damages the lungs and kills many patients with COVID-19. The team says the CBD works by enabling an increase in levels of a natural peptide called apeline, which reduces inflammation.

The study was conducted at the Dental College of Georgia (DCG) and Medical College of Georgia (MCG), both in the US.

The scientists say that apelin is a peptide made by cells in the heart, lungs, brain, adipose tissue and blood, and is an important regulator in lowering both blood pressure and inflammation. They say that blood levels of the peptide were close to zero in their model of respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but increased by 20 times with CBD.

“Ideally, ARDS would increase [the peptide] in areas of the lungs where it is needed to improve blood and oxygen supply to compensate and protect,” said Dr. Babak Baban, DCG immunologist.

However, when the researchers looked at their ARDS model, Apelin didn't either, instead decreasing in both the lung tissue itself and general circulation - until they added CBD.

The team reported this summer that CBD treatment reduced excessive pneumonia, allowing for improvements in lung function, healthier oxygen levels, and repair of some of the structural damage to the lungs that is classic in ARDS.

ACE2 receptor

The COVID-19 virus enters human cells via the also ubiquitous angiotensin converting enzyme 2, also known as the ACE2 receptor, with many similarities between ACE2 and apeline, including the fact that many cell types and tissues have both, including the lungs.

Apelin and ACE2 normally work together to control blood pressure, and up-regulation of both can be helpful in cardiovascular disease, including heart failure, by lowering blood pressure while increasing the heart's ability to pump.

The COVID-19 virus appears to disrupt this positive collaboration, as the virus has the ability to bind to the receptor for ACE2. This has been shown to decrease ACE2 levels and increase levels of the potent blood vessel constrictor angiotensin II, because less angiotensin II is broken down and less vasodilators (chemicals that dilate blood vessels) are produced, worsening the patient's prognosis.

From research: CBD clearly plays a role

Now the scientists have linked those improvements to the regulation of apelin. While they don't attribute all of the benefits of CBD to the peptide, they clearly say it plays an important role. They also say they don't yet know if SARS-CoV-2 or CBD have a direct effect on apelin, or if these are downstream consequences, but they are already looking for answers.

Research indicates that CBD may play a role in the treatment of lung damage caused by COVID-19
Research indicates that CBD may play a role in the treatment of lung damage caused by COVID-19 (afb.)

“It's an association; we don't know what causes it yet, but it is a very good indicator of the disease, ”said Baban. However, the team says their finding of reductions in apeline in light of ARDS makes levels of the protective peptide a potential early biomarker for ARDS and response to treatment efforts.

The team tested CBD in mouse models. For these studies, a control group received intranasal saline for three consecutive days, while the COVID-19 model received a synthetic analog of double-stranded RNA intranasally for three days. A third group, the treatment group, received the RNA and CBD in the same time frame.

The models with ARDS had significantly reduced levels of apelin, as they developed COVID-like symptoms compared to controls. Treatment with CBD normalized immune response and apelin levels, as well as oxygen levels and lung swelling and scarring that are characteristic of ARDS.

The researchers say the next steps include a better understanding of the interaction between CBD, Apelin and SARS-CoV-2, including why Apelin is going down in the face of the virus and why CBD is bringing it up.

Sources include DrugTargetReview (EN), Eurecalert (EN), HealthEurope (EN), Scitech Daily (EN)

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