Study of Phytocannabinoids Effects on Immune Response and Cell Processes in Chronic Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to explore how phytocannabinoids, natural molecules from the cannabis plant, affect the immune system and autophagy in people with chronic immune-mediated inflammatory diseases IMIDs. These diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, psoriatic arthritis, Sjogrens disease, and systemic lupus erythematosus, involve inflammation caused by immune system imbalance. The study focuses on identifying the most effective chemical profiles of phytocannabinoids to influence these inflammatory conditions. The study involves collecting a single 40 mL blood sample from 100 patients with these IMIDs during routine care. Blood cells will be exposed in the lab to different full-spectrum phytocannabinoid extracts, including CBD-dominant with low THC, THC-dominant, balanced THCCBD, and CBG-dominant extracts. Inflammatory inducers will be used alone and with these extracts, alongside a known anti-inflammatory drug as a control, to assess their effects on immune cell responses. Participants will provide consent and have blood collected once. Researchers will analyze inflammatory markers, cannabinoid receptor expression, and genes related to autophagy and apoptosis in blood cells. The main goal is to understand how different phytocannabinoid mixtures affect the inflammatory profile of immune cells. This cross-sectional study does not involve ongoing treatment or follow-up, focusing instead on lab-based immune response measures.

Effects of Phytocannabinoids on Immune Response and Autophagy During Chronic Immune-mediated Inflammatory Diseases