Skin: CBD Modulates the Regulation of Inflammatory Genes Related to Canine Atopic Dermatits

Polyphenols and Cannabidiol Modulate Transcriptional Regulation of Th1/Th2 Inflammatory Genes Related to Canine Atopic Dermatitis

Massimini, E. D. Vedove, B. Bachetti, F. Di Pierro, C. Ribecco, C. D’Addario, M. Pucci 

2021

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Canine atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifactorial allergic disease that affects up to 27% of dogs and is associated with immune dysfunction and abnormal skin barrier
• Due to elevated costs and side effects of traditional medication, natural treatments are constantly being developed
• Cannabidiol was able to downregulate key actors involved in the development and progression of this dermatological disease
• Treatment with CBD + polyphenols showed an ability to revert the overexpression of canine AD key inflammatory genes
• This study’s results provide groundwork for CBD application in sustained drug therapy or relapse prevention in atopic dermatitis

OBJECTIVES & HYPOTHESIS → The purpose of the study was to test the effects of a nutritious mixture of CBD + polyphenols in reverting the upregulation of AD canine key genes. 

METHODS → AD is associated with multiple immune cells and mediators encoded by specific genes (ccl2 ; ccl17; tslp; il31r) whose expression is shown to be increased in dogs suffering from atopic dermatitis. The dermatitis model was achieved by using immune and skin cells from dogs’ skin biopsies with both spontaneously occurring and induced atopic dermatitis. These inflamed cells were then treated with the nutritious mixture containing cannabidiol and polyphenols. The potential of using this mixture as an AD treatment was evaluated in terms of its ability to modulate the genes abovementioned. 

RESULTS → In the atopic dermatitis skin cells, transcription of ccl2, ccl17 and tslp was decreased after the CBD + polyphenols treatment. In the immune cells, the same impact was noted, with transcription levels of ccl2, ccl17 and il31r being reduced after the treatment.

As demonstrated by the mentioned results, the transcriptional regulation of inflammation and atopic dermatitis markers was modulated by the CBD and polyphenols exposure. As such, the natural ingredients studied in this work were able to downregulate key actors in the development and progression of this dermatological disease, setting a foundation for its use in the management of atopic dermatitis. 

Table 1: The effects of the nutraceutical treatment on the relative expression (fold change) of canine AD marker genes on CPEK keratinocytes. The treatment with “Mix” (CBD + polyphenols) reduced the relative expression (expressed in numbers) of the abovementioned genes. 

Table 2: The effects of the nutraceutical treatment on the relative expression (fold change) of canine AD marker genes on DH82 monocytes.