Immunoregulation in multipe sclerosis by cannabinoids

Immunoregulation Multiple Sclerosis by Cannabinoids

From: info@cannabis-med.org
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2003 9:27 AM

Science: Immunoregulation in multipe sclerosis by cannabinoids

Cannabinoids may be not only helpful in treating symptoms of multiple sclerosis such as spasticity and pain but may also have a positive effect on underlying disease processes. Three new basic studies and one human study add to the available data.

A group of Spanish scientists induced an immune-mediated disease in mice that serves as model for human multiple sclerosis. Treatment with the different synthetic cannabinoids significantly improved the neurological deficits. Furthermore, cannabinoids reduced several signs of inflammation, including the infiltration of certain immune cells (CD4+ T cells) into the spinal cord.

An US-American group investigated the effect of the synthetic cannabinoid WIN55,212 on immune parameters in the same animal model of MS. The found a decrease of interferon-gamma production and an inhibition of several proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, interleukin-1-beta and interleukin-6).

However, a clinical study conducted by Dutch researchers in 16 MS patients who had been given low doses of a cannabis extract for some weeks found a modest increase of TNF-alpha. Thus, it is too early to predict the effect of cannabis or single cannabinoids on the underlying immune processes of MS.

Another unpublished study found, that the natural cannabinoids THC, CBD and CBN may help reduce the activity of an overactive immune-system response that can worsen neurodegenerative conditions. Dr. Cecilia Hillard of the Medical College of Wisconsin (USA) studied rat microglia cells, immune cells in the brain. The cannabinoids inhibited the proliferation of rat microglia cells in the lab. "When they're overactive, they make a whole bunch of nasty things that wind up killing cells like neurons," Hillard said. Cannabinoids would presumably slow down this overactive process.

*Industrial-Hemp has no psychoactive properties following definition of the European Economic Community (EEC); THC content is less than 0.3%. In general, low THC-seed varieties without psychoactive properties are those that have a THC content of less than 1%. (See also No-THC Hemp-seed.) THC= Delta-9 TetraHydroCannabinol.