Cannabidiol improves lung function and inflammation in mice submitted to LPS-induced acute lung injury

Abstract

We have previously shown that the prophylactic treatment with cannabidiol (CBD) reduces inflammation in a model of acute lung injury (ALI). In this work we analyzed the effects of the therapeutic treatment with CBD in mice subjected to the model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI on pulmonary mechanics and inflammation. CBD (20 and 80 mg/kg) was administered (i.p.) to mice 6 h after LPS-induced lung inflammation. One day (24 h) after the induction of inflammation the assessment of pulmonary mechanics and inflammation were analyzed. The results show that CBD decreased total lung resistance and elastance, leukocyte migration into the lungs, myeloperoxidase activity in the lung tissue, protein concentration and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF and IL-6) and chemokines (MCP-1 and MIP-2) in the bronchoalveolar lavage supernatant. Thus, we conclude that CBD administered therapeutically, i.e. during an ongoing inflammatory process, has a potent anti-inflammatory effect and also improves the lung function in mice submitted to LPS-induced ALI. Therefore the present and previous data suggest that in the future cannabidiol might become a useful therapeutic tool for the attenuation and treatment of inflammatory lung diseases.

• Cannabidiol
• cannabinoids
• inflammation
• lipopolysaccharide
• pulmonary mechanics

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their gratitude to FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo); Dr. João Palermo-Neto and Dr. José Alexandre Crippa are recipient of a CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) fellowship.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no declarations of interest.

Financial Support: FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo – process: 09/51886-3) and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – process: 300764/2010-3).