Low-Dose THC Accelerated Wound Healing in Old Mice

Old female mice receiving daily low-dose THC (3 mg/kg) for three weeks before skin wounding showed improved wound healing rates between days 1 and 7. THC treatment altered the timing and quantity of immune cell infiltration, decreased inflammatory cytokines on days 1 and 3, and significantly increased mesenchymal stem cell infiltration in wound tissue.

Old female mice received daily low-dose medical THC (3 mg/kg) for 3 weeks, then four full-thickness skin wounds were created. Wound closure was analyzed at days 1, 3, and 7. Wound tissue was examined immunohistochemically for granulocytes, M1-macrophages, and mesenchymal stem cells. Inflammatory cytokines and growth factors were measured by ELISA.

Aging impairs wound healing through disrupted immune responses and delayed tissue repair. This study suggests that low-dose THC could restore proper immune cell coordination in aging tissue, offering a potential therapeutic approach for age-related wound healing problems.

The endocannabinoid system declines with age, and this study suggests that restoring ECS signaling with low-dose THC could help coordinate the immune response needed for efficient wound repair. This aligns with broader research showing low-dose THC may have different and potentially beneficial effects in aged organisms compared to young ones.

Animal study in mice; results may not translate to humans. Only female mice were studied. Single THC dose level tested. Short wound observation period (7 days). Did not examine long-term healing outcomes or scar quality.