High-CBD cannabis extract may significantly reduce inflammation and regulate immune activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a new study published in Frontiers in Immunology.
The research, conducted by scientists from the Shanti Center for Medical Cannabis Research and the Clinical Research Institute at Rambam in Israel, assessed the impact of a CBD extract called CBD-X on key immune cells and inflammation pathways involved in RA. RA is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects roughly 1% of the global population.
In laboratory tests using human neutrophils and macrophages, CBD-X was found to inhibit the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α. The extract also disrupted critical inflammatory signaling by suppressing NF-κB p65 and Akt phosphorylation in neutrophils.
The researchers then tested CBD-X in two mouse models of arthritis. In both cases, treatment with CBD-X reduced the number of circulating neutrophils and monocytes—two cell types heavily implicated in RA progression. The extract also limited neutrophil migration to joints, reduced overall joint inflammation, and altered the neutrophil-to-macrophage ratio, a key marker of disease activity. Notably, this ratio was not affected by dexamethasone, a commonly used steroid, suggesting CBD-X may operate through a different mechanism.
In addition, CBD-X boosted levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 while reducing levels of TNF-α and MCP-1, further supporting its role in modulating immune responses.
Researchers say the findings highlight the potential of CBD-X as a therapeutic treatment for RA and possibly other autoimmune conditions characterized by chronic inflammation.
