Cannabidiol (CBD) is the most abundant cannabinoid in Cannabis sativa
that has no psychoactive properties. CBD has been approved to treat
inflammation, pain and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis
(MS), of which demyelination and oligodendrocyte loss are hallmarks.
Thus, we investigated the protective effects of CBD against the damage
to oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) mediated by the immune
system. Doses of 1 μM CBD protect OPCs from oxidative stress by
decreasing the production of reactive oxygen species. CBD also protects
OPCs from apoptosis induced by LPS/IFNγ through the decrease of caspase 3
induction via mechanisms that do not involve CB1, CB2, TRPV1 or PPARγ
receptors. Tunicamycin-induced OPC death was attenuated by CBD,
suggesting a role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the mode of
action of CBD. This protection against ER stress-induced apoptosis was
associated with reduced phosphorylation of eiF2α, one of the initiators
of the ER stress pathway. Indeed, CBD diminished the phosphorylation of
PKR and eiF2α induced by LPS/IFNγ. The pro-survival effects of CBD in
OPCs were accompanied by decreases in the expression of ER apoptotic
effectors (CHOP, Bax and caspase 12), and increased expression of the
anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. These findings suggest that attenuation of the ER
stress pathway is involved in the 'oligoprotective' effects of CBD
during inflammation.
CBD has been approved to treat inflammation, pain and spasticity associated with MS...No it has not!!!!!.
Sativex which contains THC and CBD has been approved for treatment of pain and spasticity and not inflammation. There is no published evidence that CBD alone has these benefits in MS. Indeed the biology suggests that it is the THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) in the sativex mixture that is the major active ingredient in symptom control. However does CBD and THC have the potential to do other things? Yes they do. Unforutntately the CUPID trial has not shown benefit for treating prrogressive MS but the biology and experimental data both suggested that it had the potential to do so.
This study suggests that CBD is not an inert partner in the Sativex mixture and may provide some capacity to affect limiting the processes associated with progression. However this was work in a text tube and there is no evidence that this occurs in MS.