Can Cannabis Govern Host Response During Periodontal Infection

to determine if and how cannabis effect host-response during periodontal infection, bacterial sustainability, and immune system cells in the inflammation site.

the subcutaneous chamber model in C57Bl/6 mice were used to induce local inflammation during infection with the perio-pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Different cannabis extracts were administered locally into the infection site or at distant location during the infection and immune cell migration was tested using flow cytometry. Bacterial survival was tested using blood agar for CFU calculations. Also, a dose response experiment was done to examine the therapeutic window of the extracts.

neutrophils (CD45+Lys6G+ cells) and monocytes (CD45+CD64+) migration was downregulated following cannabis treatment compared with sham controls. Furthermore, a significant reduction in bacterial survival following cannabis treatment. Other immune cells migration showed reduced presence such as CD8a+ T cytotoxic cells and NK, while other cells as CD4+ T helper cells were elevated at the site of infection. Cannabis administration showed better results when administer at a distant site to the infection. Cannabis treatment showed a `bell shape` dose response with optimal dose at exceptionally low cannabis levels.

cannabis shows anti-inflammatory properties with robust bacterial clearance. This is mainly mediated by neutrophils and monocytes at the site of infection, with optimal effect when administer at distant site to the infection.