Journal article
Antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects of Cannabidiol in HIV/SIV infection
Brain, behavior, and immunity, v 137, 106843
Oct 2026
PMID: 42235652
Featured in Collection : Drexel's Newest Publications
Abstract
•Cannabidiol (CBD) suppresses simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) replication and during acute infection of rhesus macaques.•CBD maintain cellular immunity in vivo during acute SIV infection.•CBD modulates endocannabinoid reporters during acute SIV infection.•CBD suppresses human immunodeficiency virus (HIC) replication of primary human cells.•CBD selectively suppresses inflammatory cytokines in primary human cells.
Persistent reservoirs and chronic immune activation are hallmarks of HIV, despite the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in suppressing viral replication. Here, we use rhesus macaques and primary and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived human immune cells to evaluate the virologic and immunologic consequences of cannabidiol (CBD) exposure during HIV/SIV infection. We show that CBD, in the absence of ART, suppresses viral replication and establishment of the viral reservoir to levels comparable with first-line therapies during acute SIV infection of rhesus macaques. This antiviral effect of CBD extended to in vitro HIV infection of human macrophages, T cells, and microglia. Immunologically, we observe CBD slowed CD4 + T cell decline and polarization, decreased CD14 + CD16 + monocyte expansion, and reduced interferon-inducible cytokine release in rhesus macaques. We identify comparable effects on cytokine production with in vitro CBD treatment of human macrophages, T cells, and microglia. Importantly, we find CBD inhibits cytokines only when an immune response is elicited by HIV, suggesting it is not broadly immunosuppressive. Finally, we determine CBD regulates endocannabinoid receptors, modulators, and transporters and inhibits NF-κb and STAT1 activation when mediating its antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects. These findings show beneficial effects of CBD in laboratory models of untreated HIV, thus placebo-controlled clinical trials to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of adjunctive CBD use with ART is warranted.
Metrics
3 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects of Cannabidiol in HIV/SIV infection
- Creators
- Alysha L. Ellison - Emory UniversityJosé Javier Rosado-Franco - Emory UniversityLabib Mamun - Emory UniversityStephen Knerler - Emory UniversityMarzieh Daniali - Drexel UniversityKiara Mehta - Emory University School of MedicineSierra Williams-McLeod - Johns Hopkins UniversityJade Alvarez - Johns Hopkins UniversitySavoya S. Joyner - Florida State UniversityRyan Vandrey - Johns Hopkins UniversityElise M. Weerts - Johns Hopkins UniversityPeter J. Gaskill - Drexel UniversityMichael J. Corley - University of California San DiegoLishomwa C. Ndhlovu - Cornell UniversityDionna W. Williams (Corresponding Author) - Emory University
- Publication Details
- Brain, behavior, and immunity, v 137, 106843
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 15
- Grant note
- National Institutes of Health: F31DA058562, R01DA052859, U01DA058527, P30AI050409, T32AI157855, U42 PDP11023 National Institutes of Health grant, Office of Research Infrastructure Programs/Office of the Director: P51OD011132
National Institutes of Health grant F31DA058562 (ALE)National Institutes of Health grant R01DA052859 (DWW)National Institutes of Health grant U01DA058527 (DWW, MJC, LCN)National Institutes of Health grant P30AI050409 (Center for AIDS Research at Emory University)National Institutes of Health grant T32AI157855 (Center for AIDS Research at Emory University)National Institutes of Health grant, Office of Research Infrastructure Programs/Office of the Director P51OD011132 (Emory National Primate Research Center)National Institutes of Health grant U42 PDP11023 (Emory National Primate Research Center)The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Pharmacology and Physiology
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001792351000001
- Other Identifier
- 991022191171704721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: SDGs in the Output
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Immunology
- Neurosciences
- Psychiatry