Antiviral and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Cannabidiol in HIV/SIV Infection.

Oct 3, 2025bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology

Cannabidiol’s antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects in HIV/SIV infection

AI simplified

Regenerative Health on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

CBD suppresses viral replication during acute SIV infection in rhesus macaques to levels comparable with first-line therapies.

CBD exposure during HIV/SIV infection may prevent the establishment of viral reservoirs.
In rhesus macaques, CBD slowed the decline of CD4+ T cells and decreased the expansion of certain monocyte types.
CBD reduced the release of specific immune signaling molecules in response to HIV infection.
The antiviral effects of CBD were observed in human immune cells, including macrophages, T cells, and microglia.
CBD's inhibition of cytokines appears to occur specifically in the presence of an immune response triggered by HIV.

AI simplified

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 toHIV 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 withCBD 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. in vitro in vitro

Antiviral and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Cannabidiol in HIV/SIV Infection.

Abstract

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Abstract

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week: