Cannabidiol attenuates delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions via suppressing T-cell and macrophage reactivity

• Published in: Acta pharmacologica Sinica Vol. 31; no. 12; pp. 1611 - 1617
• Main Authors: Liu, Der-zen, Hu, Chieh-min, Huang, Chung-hsiung, Wey, Shiaw-pyng, Jan, Tong-rong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.12.2010; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cannabidiol - pharmacology; Cytokines; Hypersensitivity, Delayed - drug therapy; Hypersensitivity, Delayed - immunology; Hypersensitivity, Delayed - physiopathology; Immunology; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interleukin-10 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-4 - biosynthesis; Internal Medicine; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - immunology; Male; Medical Microbiology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Original; original-article; Ovalbumin; Pharmacology/Toxicology; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - biosynthesis; T细胞; Vaccine; 炎性细胞因子; 生物多样性公约; 细胞活性; 过敏反应; 迟发型; cannabidiol; cytokine; interleukin-4; delayed-type hypersensitivity; T cell; inteferon-γ; tumor necrosis factor-α; macrophage; interleukin-10
• ISSN: 1671-4083; 1745-7254
• DOI: 10.1038/aps.2010.155

Aim： To investigate the effects of cannabidiol （CBD） on delayed-type hypersensitivity （DTH） reactions and antigen-induced T-cell cytokine expression. Methods： DTH was induced by subcutaneous ovalbumin （OVA） challenge to the footpads of mice sensitized with OVA. Inflammatory reactions were measured by footpad swelling and histological analysis. Antigen-induced cytokine expression by OVA-primed splenocytes was measured using ELISA and RT-PCR. Results： CBD （1-10 mg/kg） administration, in a dose-dependent fashion, significantly attenuated inflammatory reactions associated with DTH in the footpads of mice sensitized and challenged with OVA. Histological examination revealed that CBD suppressed the infil- tration of T cells and macrophages, and the expression of interferon （IFN）-y and tumor necrosis factor-α, two pro-inflammatory cytokines implicated in DTH in the inflammatory site. In contrast, the expression of interleukin （IL）-10 in the footpads was enhanced by CBD administration. In addition, CBD at concentrations devoid of cytotoxic effects （1-4 μmol/L） attenuated OVA-induced IFN-y production by OVA-primed splenocytes, whereas IL-4 was unaffected. Conclusion： CBD curbs DTH reactions via suppressing the infiltration and functional activity of T cells and macrophages in the inflammatory site, suggesting a therapeutic potential for CBD for the treatment of type IV hypersensitivity.