People with HIV had altered endocannabinoid levels, but cannabis use frequency did not change immune markers
People living with HIV had higher inflammatory markers and lower endocannabinoid levels than HIV-negative peers, but cannabis use frequency did not affect these immune measures.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
PLWH had higher TNFR2 (p=0.013) and CD27 (p=0.004) and lower anandamide (p=0.027) and OEA (p=0.007) versus HIV-negative men. Cannabis use frequency did not impact any serum analyte.
Key Numbers
36 men (19 PLWH). TNFR2 and CD27 higher in PLWH. Anandamide and OEA lower. Cannabis frequency: no effect on any analyte.
How They Did This
Longitudinal study of 36 MSM in LA (19 PLWH). Each contributed visits during daily and infrequent cannabis use. Serum analyzed for immune biomarkers and endocannabinoids.
Why This Research Matters
Lower endocannabinoid levels in PLWH suggest HIV affects the body's cannabinoid system. The null finding on cannabis frequency is reassuring for PLWH who use cannabis.
The Bigger Picture
HIV alters endocannabinoid levels, pointing to FAAH enzyme activity as potentially important in HIV-related immune dysfunction.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Very small sample (n=36). PLWH had higher methamphetamine and cigarette use. MSM population.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would FAAH inhibitors normalize endocannabinoid levels in PLWH?
- ?Do findings generalize beyond MSM?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- cannabis use frequency did not change immune or endocannabinoid markers in people with or without HIV
- Evidence Grade:
- Clever within-person design but very small sample limits power and generalizability.
- Study Age:
- 2024 publication.
- Original Title:
- Changes in Immune-Related Biomarkers and Endocannabinoids as a Function of Frequency of Cannabis Use in People Living With and Without HIV.
- Published In:
- Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 9(3), e897-e906 (2024)
- Authors:
- Murray, Conor H(5), Javanbakht, Marjan(2), Cho, Grace D, Gorbach, Pamina M, Fulcher, Jennifer A, Cooper, Ziva D
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05578
Evidence Hierarchy
Follows a group of people over time to track how outcomes develop.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis affect the immune system in HIV?
Cannabis use frequency did not change immune markers here. However, HIV itself lowered endocannabinoid levels, suggesting the virus affects the body's cannabinoid system.
What are endocannabinoids?
Molecules your body naturally produces that work through the same receptors as cannabis. Anandamide and OEA were both lower in PLWH.
Read More on RethinkTHC
- CBD-oil-quality-guide
- anxiety-medication-after-quitting-weed
- cannabis-chemotherapy-nausea
- cannabis-chronic-pain-research
- cannabis-epilepsy-CBD-Epidiolex
- cbd-anxiety-research-evidence
- cbd-for-weed-withdrawal
- cbd-vs-thc-difference
- medical-benefits-of-cannabis
- quitting-weed-before-surgery
- quitting-weed-medication-interactions
- quitting-weed-pregnancy
- quitting-weed-pregnant
- seniors-older-adults-cannabis-risks-medications
- weed-breastfeeding-THC-breast-milk
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05578APA
Murray, Conor H; Javanbakht, Marjan; Cho, Grace D; Gorbach, Pamina M; Fulcher, Jennifer A; Cooper, Ziva D. (2024). Changes in Immune-Related Biomarkers and Endocannabinoids as a Function of Frequency of Cannabis Use in People Living With and Without HIV.. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 9(3), e897-e906. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2022.0287
MLA
Murray, Conor H, et al. "Changes in Immune-Related Biomarkers and Endocannabinoids as a Function of Frequency of Cannabis Use in People Living With and Without HIV.." Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2022.0287
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Changes in Immune-Related Biomarkers and Endocannabinoids as..." RTHC-05578. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/murray-2024-changes-in-immunerelated-biomarkers
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.