A study published yesterday by the journal MedComm suggests that cannabidiol (CBD) may play a protective role in bone marrow recovery following acute radiation exposure.
Bone marrow, home to hematopoietic stem cells, is highly sensitive to radiation, and severe damage can be fatal. However, there are currently few effective treatments available. The study, conducted by researchers from the Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, and Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, found that administering CBD significantly improved survival rates and restored bone marrow hematopoiesis within 14 days of radiation exposure.
Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that CBD treatment restored gene expression linked to stem cell maintenance, particularly within the Wnt and BMP signaling pathways. The researchers identified Atf2 as a key transcription factor upregulated by CBD, which in turn increased the expression of Lrp6, a gene critical for maintaining hematopoietic stem cell function. Further experiments confirmed that Atf2 plays a vital role in regulating the differentiation potential of these cells.
“Overall, our findings provide evidence for a promising radioprotective function of cannabidiol and Atf2 as a candidate therapeutic target for acute radiation-induced hematopoietic injury, thereby paving the way for future research in the field”, concludes the study.
The study’s full text can be found here.
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