Cannabidiol reduces lung injury induced by hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in newborn piglets.

BACKGROUND:

Brain hypoxic-ischemic (HI) damage induces distant inflammatory lung damage in newborn pigs. We aimed to investigate the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on lung damage in this scenario.

METHODS:

Newborn piglets received i.v. vehicle, CBD or CBD+WAY100635 (5-HT_1A receptor antagonist) after HI brain damage (carotid flow interruption and FiO₂ 0.10 for 30 min). Total lung compliance (TLC), oxygenation index (OI) and extravascular lung water content (EVLW) were monitored for six hours. Histological damage, interleukin (IL)-1ß concentration and oxidative stress were assessed in brain and lung tissue. Total protein content was determined in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).

RESULTS:

CBD prevented HI-induced deleterious effects on TLC and OI and reduced lung histological damage, modulating inflammation (decreased leukocyte infiltration and IL-1 concentration) and reducing protein content in BALF and EVLW. These effects were related to CBD-induced anti-inflammatory changes in the brain. HI did not increase oxidative stress in the lungs. In the lungs, WAY100635 blunted CBD’s beneficial effects on histological damage, IL-1 concentration and EVLW.

CONCLUSIONS:

CBD reduced brain HI-induced distant lung damage, with 5-HT_1A receptor involvement in these effects. Whether CBD’s effects on lungs were due to anti-inflammatory effects on the brain or to direct effects on lungs remains to be elucidated.Pediatric Research accepted article preview online, 07 April 2017. doi:10.1038/pr.2017.104.