Medical Cannabis to Prevent/Treat COVID-19? High-CBD Sativa Extracts Modulate ACE2 Expression

“The Aging American authors developed more than 800 new C. sativa cultivars and hypothesized that high-CBD C. sativa extracts could be used to down-regulate ACE2 expression in target COVID-19 tissues.”

Aging-US published “Seeking Preventive Strategies: Novel CBD-Rich Cannabis Sativa Extracts Modulate ACE2 Expression in COVID-19 Gateway Tissues”, which reported that cannabis sativa, particularly those high in the anti-inflammatory cannabinoid cannabidiol , alters gene expression and inflammation, and harbors anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties.

Working under a research license from Health Canada, the Aging American authors developed more than 800 new C. sativa cultivars and hypothesized that high-CBD C. sativa extracts could be used to target ACE2 expression in target COVID. -19 downregulate tissues.

Using artificial human 3D models of oral, respiratory and intestinal tissues, they identified 13 high-CBD C. sativa extracts that lower ACE2 protein levels.

Some C. sativa extracts down-regulate serine protease TMPRSS2, another critical protein required for SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells.

Effects of novel C. sativa extracts on the levels of TMPRSS2 in the EpiAirway-FT (A) and EpiAirway (B) tissue models in induction of inflammation by TNFα/IFNγ treatment. Three tissue samples were used per treatment group. Protein extracts were prepared from each sample and equal amounts of each sample in each group were pooled. Each bar is an average (with SD) of three technical repeat measurements. * – p<0.05, Student's t-test. Credit: © 2020 Wang et al.

While their most effective extracts require further large-scale validation, their study is important for future analyzes of the effects of medicinal cannabis on COVID-19. The extracts from their most successful new CBD-rich C. sativa lines may, pending further research, become a useful and safe addition to the prevention/treatment of COVID-19 as adjunctive therapy.

dr. Olga Kovalchuk and Dr. Igor Kovalchuk said: “There is a global pandemic of the disease COVID-19, which is caused by the zoonotic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Like other respiratory pathogens, SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted through respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. However, aerosol and close contact transmission cannot be ruled out as agents of disease spread.

An in-depth analysis of the cancer genome atlas and functional annotation of the mammalian genome Cap analysis of gene expression data sets revealed that ACE2 is expressed in the oral mucosa and enriched in the epithelial cells of the tongue.

High levels of ACE2 expression in oral epithelial tissues suggest that the oral cavity could be highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and thus an important target for prevention strategies.

Similarly, numerous studies have reported high levels of ACE2 in the lower respiratory tract; higher levels of ACE2 expression, such as those seen in smokers and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are associated with a higher predisposition to COVID-19 and increased disease severity.

Using artificial 3D models of human tissue, the authors show that high-CBD C. sativa extracts can decrease ACE2 expression in target COVID-19 tissues, suggesting that these extracts are important in the prevention of COVID-19.

The Kovalchuk/Kovalchuk research team concluded in their Aging-US Research Output: “While our most effective extracts require further validation through large-scale analyses, our study is important for future analyzes of the effects of medicinal cannabis on COVID-19. Given the current dire and rapidly evolving epidemiological situation, every possible therapeutic option should be considered and explored.”

Reference: “In search of preventive strategies: Novel CBD-rich cannabis sativa extracts modulate ACE2 expression in COVID-19 gateway tissues” by Bo Wang, Anna Kovalchuk, Dongping Li, Rocio Rodriguez-Juarez, Yaroslav Ilnytskyy, Igor Kovalchuk and Olga Kovalchuk, November 22, 2020, US aging population.
DOI: 10.18632/aging.202225