Anti-inflammatory effects of CBD in human microglial cells latently and actively infected with HIV-1 virus

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with a chronic inflammatory stage and continuous inflammasome pathway activation. We studied the anti-inflammatory effects of the compound cannabidiol (CBD) in comparison with Δ (9)-tetrahydrocannabinol [Δ(9)-THC] in human microglial cells (HC69) latently and actively infected with HIV. Our results demonstrated that CBD reduced the production of various inflammatory cytokines and chemokines such as MIF, SERPIN E1, IL6, IL8, GM-CSF, MCP-1, CXCL1, CXCL10, and IL1 β compared to Δ(9)-THC treatment. In addition, CBD produced the deactivation of caspase 1, which plays a significant role in the inflammasome cascade. Furthermore, CBD significantly reduced the expression of HIV. Our study demonstrate that CBD which is anti-inflammatory which does not cause psychotropic effects compared to THC will be of therapeutic significance against HIV-1 infections.