The cytokine storm caused by COVID-19 can significantly damage the lungs. Research published recently shows that one of the cannabinoids - CBD - has the property of reducing these changes by allowing the levels of an essential peptide to rise.
A group of researchers from the Dental College of Georgia (DCG) and the Medical College of Georgia showed in their research earlier this year that CBD has the ability to raise oxygen levels and reduce the inflammation and physical damage to the lungs associated with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The study detailed the mechanisms behind these effects, showing that CBD normalizes levels of a peptide called apelin, which is known to reduce inflammation and is underestimated when contracted with COVID-19.
Apelina not only reduces blood pressure, it was also an important factor in reducing inflammation, which fell almost to zero in the proprietary ARDS model. After administration of CBD, its level increased 20 times. In a healthy organism, as blood pressure increases, the level of apelin increases, which should lower it. The same appeal should work in the event of inflammation, trying to get rid of it.
"Ideally with ARDS, it would increase in areas of the lung where it is necessary to improve blood and oxygen flow for compensation and protection," said Dr. Babak Baban, a DCG immunologist. The authors looked at their ARDS model, unfortunately the apelin did not work as expected and instead decreased in both the lung tissue itself and the overall circulation. This only changed after the administration of CBD.
"It's an association; we don't know the cause yet, but it is a very good indicator of disease, ”said Dr. Baban.
The discovery of such a dramatic decrease in the protective peptide could be considered an early biomarker for ARDS.
The ACE2 receptor is an intermediary cell in the entry of the virus into our body. Usually, apelin and ACE2 work together fruitfully, e.g. regulating both helps to normalize blood pressure, helps with cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, by lowering blood pressure while increasing the heart's pumping capacity.
The COVID-19 virus disrupts this positive partnership because the virus has the ability to bind to the ACE2 receptor. This reduces the level of ACE2 and increases the level of the strong vasoconstrictor angiotensin II.
"Instead of ACE2 helping to relax the blood vessels, it helps the virus get into the host where it produces more virus, instead of helping the lungs relax and do their job," says one researcher.
CBD as a natural apelin agonist? The authors developed a safe, relatively inexpensive ARDS model, producing a synthetic double-stranded RNA analog called POLY (I: C). The new coronavirus also has double-stranded RNA, while human DNA is single-stranded. The model produced a virus-like response, including extreme lung damage and a "cytokine storm" that reflect an excessive immune response in the lungs.
In these studies, the control group received saline intranasally for three consecutive days, while the COVID-19 model received POLY (I: C) intranasally for three days. The third group, the treated group, received both POLY (I: C) and CBD at the same time. Researchers found significantly lowered apelin levels in mice that developed COVID-like symptoms compared to controls, and treatment with CBD normalized the immune response and apelin levels, along with oxygen levels, edema, and scarring in the lungs.
"The apelinergic system is a very, very ubiquitous signaling system." The authors recognize the different roles of appeal at different sites in the body and its levels are consistently measurable in the lungs, which is one reason it should be a good biomarker.
"CBD reduces COVID-19 lung damage with protective peptides" https://www.healtheuropa.eu/cbd-reduces-covid-19-lung-damage-with-protective-peptides/103374/
