A cannabis extract reduced COVID-related inflammatory markers in lung cells but increased inflammation in immune cells
A CBD-rich cannabis extract reduced IL-6 and IL-8 in lung epithelial cells relevant to COVID-19 inflammation, but paradoxically increased these same inflammatory markers in macrophages.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
The cannabis fraction (FCBD, containing CBD, CBG, and THCV) dose-dependently reduced IL-6, IL-8, CCL2, CCL7, and ACE2 expression in A549 lung epithelial cells. However, FCBD increased IL-6 and IL-8 in macrophages while inducing polarization and phagocytosis. A synthetic phytocannabinoid formulation (FCBD:std) maintained anti-inflammatory activity in lung cells while reducing pro-inflammatory effects in macrophages.
Key Numbers
FCBD reduced IL-6 and IL-8 dose-dependently in A549 cells. FCBD reduced ACE2 expression. FCBD increased IL-6 and IL-8 in macrophages. FCBD:std reduced macrophage pro-inflammatory effects compared to FCBD. FCBD contained CBD, CBG, and THCV plus terpenes.
How They Did This
In vitro study using A549 alveolar epithelial cells and differentiated KG1 macrophages. Cannabis extract fraction (FCBD) and a phytocannabinoid standard formulation (FCBD:std) tested for effects on COVID-19-relevant inflammatory markers, ACE2 expression, macrophage polarization, and phagocytosis.
Why This Research Matters
COVID-19 can cause severe lung inflammation. While cannabis compounds showed anti-inflammatory effects in lung cells, the opposite effect in immune cells highlights the complexity of using cannabinoids for inflammatory conditions and argues against simplistic claims about cannabis for COVID.
The Bigger Picture
The divergent effects in different cell types serve as a reminder that anti-inflammatory claims about cannabis are oversimplified. What reduces inflammation in one tissue may worsen it in another.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
In vitro cell line study, not clinical research. A549 and KG1 cell lines may not represent actual human lung and immune cells during COVID-19 infection. No virus was used; only inflammatory markers were measured. The extract composition may vary between batches.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would these effects be seen in actual COVID-19 patients?
- ?Could the phytocannabinoid formulation be optimized to maintain lung anti-inflammatory effects without macrophage activation?
- ?Is ACE2 reduction beneficial or harmful in the context of COVID-19?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Anti-inflammatory in lung cells, pro-inflammatory in macrophages
- Evidence Grade:
- In vitro study in cell lines, not clinical research. Interesting mechanistic finding but far from clinical application.
- Study Age:
- 2021 in vitro study. The authors caution against proposing cannabis as a COVID-19 treatment based on these results.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in vitro in COVID-19-related inflammation in lung epithelial cells and pro-inflammatory activity in macrophages.
- Published In:
- Scientific reports, 11(1), 1462 (2021)
- Authors:
- Anil, Seegehalli M(2), Shalev, Nurit(3), Vinayaka, Ajjampura C(2), Nadarajan, Stalin, Namdar, Dvora, Belausov, Eduard, Shoval, Irit, Mani, Karthik Ananth, Mechrez, Guy, Koltai, Hinanit
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02972
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Can cannabis treat COVID-19?
This study found cannabis compounds reduced inflammatory markers in lung cells but increased them in immune cells. The authors explicitly caution against proposing cannabis as a COVID-19 treatment based on these in vitro results.
Why did the effects differ between cell types?
Lung epithelial cells and macrophages have different cannabinoid receptor profiles and signaling pathways. This explains why the same compounds can reduce inflammation in one cell type while increasing it in another.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02972APA
Anil, Seegehalli M; Shalev, Nurit; Vinayaka, Ajjampura C; Nadarajan, Stalin; Namdar, Dvora; Belausov, Eduard; Shoval, Irit; Mani, Karthik Ananth; Mechrez, Guy; Koltai, Hinanit. (2021). Cannabis compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in vitro in COVID-19-related inflammation in lung epithelial cells and pro-inflammatory activity in macrophages.. Scientific reports, 11(1), 1462. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81049-2
MLA
Anil, Seegehalli M, et al. "Cannabis compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in vitro in COVID-19-related inflammation in lung epithelial cells and pro-inflammatory activity in macrophages.." Scientific reports, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81049-2
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in vit..." RTHC-02972. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/anil-2021-cannabis-compounds-exhibit-antiinflammatory
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.