Veterinary immunology and immunopathology2023; 257; 110549; doi: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2023.110549

The effects of cannabidiol on immune function and health parameters in senior horses.

Abstract: Cannabidiol (CBD) has potential to reduce pain and inflammation in humans leading to the interest of use in equine. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of CBD on immune function by measuring inflammatory cytokines and antibody responses to vaccination, as well as other health parameters in senior horses. Horses were orally-dosed with CBD (2 mg/kg: 13 horses) or control (soy oil: 14 horses) daily for 90 days, from July 2021 to November 2021. Peripheral blood samples were collected on days 0, 30, 60, and 90 before administering treatments. On day 90 all horses were kept on treatment and vaccinated with an equine influenza vaccine and blood samples were collected post-vaccination on days 14 and 21. For all time points, plasma samples were analyzed for determination of CBD and metabolites, 7-OH CBD and 7-COOH CBD, using tandem mass spectrometry. For time points 0, 30, 60 and 90, blood samples were analyzed for CBC and chemistry. Additionally, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated, stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin, stained intracellularly for interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) then analyzed via flow cytometry. Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) analyzed both stimulated PBMCs and whole blood for cytokine gene expression. Inflammatory proteins C-reactive protein, interleukin 1 receptor agonist, and prostaglandin E2 were measured with equine-specific enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test and oral sugar test were performed on all horses before and after the study to analyze metabolic function. Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers were measured for immune responses pre- and post-vaccination. All data were analyzed using either a paired t-test or a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance (significance P < 0.05). Plasma concentrations of CBD and metabolites were determined with 7-COOH CBD, the most significant metabolite, in CBD treated horses compared to control treated horses. A significant decrease was determined for whole blood inflammatory cytokine expression of IFN-γ at day 60, and for IL6 at day 60 and 90 for CBD-treated horses when compared to control horses. CBD did not significantly affect any other immune factors, HI titers, or health parameters. This study demonstrated that treatment with CBD reduced some inflammatory cytokine production with no negative side effects as measured by CBC or chemistry profiles. This study reveals the initial understanding of CBD in the horse, however more in-depth research is needed to fully understand its efficacy on the health of the horse.
Publication Date: 2023-01-19 PubMed ID: 36682327DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2023.110549Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research study explores the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on the immune function and health parameters in senior horses. The study found that CBD treatment reduced some inflammatory cytokine production but had no significant effect on other immune factors or health parameters.

Study Overview

  • The study aimed at determining the impact of CBD on immune function by measuring inflammatory cytokines and antibody responses to vaccination, as well as other health parameters in senior horses.
  • The horses were orally dosed with either CBD or a control substance (soy oil) every day for a period of 90 days.
  • Blood samples were collected at various intervals during the study and tested for various indicators including CBD metabolites and various inflammatory proteins.
  • A combination of tests, including Thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation, oral sugar test, and Hemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers, were performed on all horses before and after the study to analyze metabolic function.

Findings

  • The CBD treatment led to an increase in plasma concentrations of 7-COOH CBD, a significant metabolite in CBD-treated horses as compared to control treated horses.
  • There was a considerable decrease in the production of inflammatory cytokine expression, IFN-γ, after 60 days, and IL6 at 60 and 90 days for horses treated with CBD.
  • CBD treatment did not significantly affect other immune factors, HI titers, or health parameters.
  • Though CBD had some influence on inflamatory cytokine production, it didn’t portray negative side effects as measured by CBC or chemistry profiles.

Conclusion

  • This study provides preliminary understanding of CBD’s effect on senior horses, revealing its ability to lessen some inflammatory cytokine production without recognizable negative effects.
  • However, it calls for more comprehensive research to fully understand the efficacy and impact of CBD on the overall health of horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Turner S, Knych HK, Adams AA. (2023). The effects of cannabidiol on immune function and health parameters in senior horses. Vet Immunol Immunopathol, 257, 110549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2023.110549

Publication

ISSN: 1873-2534
NlmUniqueID: 8002006
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 257
Pages: 110549

Researcher Affiliations

Turner, Shelley
  • M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA. Electronic address: Shelley.turner@uky.edu.
Knych, Heather K
  • K.L Maddy Equine Analytical Pharmacology Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
Adams, Amanda A
  • M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Leukocytes, Mononuclear / metabolism
  • Cannabidiol
  • Cytokines
  • Interferon-gamma / metabolism
  • Immunity

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper. The funder of the study, Enhanced Pet Sciences, had no involvement in the study design, data collection, analysis, interpretation of the results, the writing of this article, nor the submission of this article for publication.

Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Eichler F, Pou017aniak B, Machnik M, Schenk I, Wingender A, Baudisch N, Thevis M, Bu00e4umer W, Lischer C, Ehrle A. Pharmacokinetic modelling of orally administered cannabidiol and implications for medication control in horses.. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1234551.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1234551pubmed: 37621871google scholar: lookup