Immunomodulatory Effects of a High-CBD Cannabis Extract: A Comparative Analysis with Conventional Therapies for Oral Lichen Planus and Graft-Versus-Host Disease
Abstract
1. Introduction
Study Hypothesis
2. Results
2.1. CAN296 and CBD:CBC (2:1) Combination Significantly Inhibited TNF-α and IFN-γ Secretion by CD8+ T Cells
2.2. CAN296 Suppresses CD69 Expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells, Outperforms Dexamethasone and Tacrolimus
2.3. CAN296 Inhibits TNF-α and IFN-γ Secretion by CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells, Outperforming Dexamethasone and Tacrolimus
2.4. CAN296 Reduces Fas-L Expression in CD8+ T Cells, Outperforming Dexamethasone and Tacrolimus
2.5. CAN296 Inhibits Granzyme B and Perforin Expression in CD8+ T Cells, Comparable to Dexamethasone and Tacrolimus
3. Discussion
4. Materials and Methods
4.1. Immunosuppressive Agents’ Preparation
4.2. Phytocannabinoid Extraction and Sample Preparation
4.3. PBMC Isolation and CD4+/CD8+ Enrichment
4.4. T Cell Activation
4.5. CD69, Granzyme B, Perforin, and Fas-L Staining
4.6. Flow Cytometry Analysis
4.7. TNF-α and IFN-γ Secretion Analysis by ELISA
4.8. Statistical Analysis
4.9. Study Approval
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
Abbreviations
| CAN296 | CBD-rich cannabis extract (Type III strain) |
| CB2 | Cannabinoid receptor type 2 |
| CBC | Cannabichromene |
| CBD | Cannabidiol |
| CD4+ | Cluster of Differentiation 4 helper T cells |
| CD8+ | Cluster of Differentiation 8 cytotoxic T cells |
| DEX | Dexamethasone |
| DMSO | Dimethyl sulfoxide |
| ECS | Endocannabinoid system |
| ELISA | Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay |
| FBS | Fetal bovine serum |
| FMO | Fluorescence-minus-one |
| GVHD | Graft-versus-host disease |
| HNSCC | Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma |
| HSCT | Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation |
| IFN-γ | Interferon gamma |
| LLLT | Low-level laser therapy |
| MFI | Median fluorescence intensity |
| NF-κB | Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells |
| OLP | Oral lichen planus |
| OPMD | Oral potentially malignant disorder |
| oGVHD | Oral graft-versus-host disease |
| PBMC | Peripheral blood mononuclear cells |
| PBS | Phosphate-buffered saline |
| PDT | Photodynamic therapy |
| PFA | Paraformaldehyde |
| PPAR | Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor |
| TAC | Tacrolimus |
| T-cell | T lymphocyte |
| TNF-α | Tumor necrosis factor alpha |
| TRP | Transient receptor potential |
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Blal, K.; Rosenblum, R.; Novak-Kotzer, H.; Procaccia, S.; Abu Tair, J.; Casap, N.; Meiri, D.; Benny, O. Immunomodulatory Effects of a High-CBD Cannabis Extract: A Comparative Analysis with Conventional Therapies for Oral Lichen Planus and Graft-Versus-Host Disease. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26, 10711. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110711
Blal K, Rosenblum R, Novak-Kotzer H, Procaccia S, Abu Tair J, Casap N, Meiri D, Benny O. Immunomodulatory Effects of a High-CBD Cannabis Extract: A Comparative Analysis with Conventional Therapies for Oral Lichen Planus and Graft-Versus-Host Disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025; 26(21):10711. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110711
Chicago/Turabian StyleBlal, Kifah, Ronen Rosenblum, Hila Novak-Kotzer, Shiri Procaccia, Jawad Abu Tair, Nardy Casap, David Meiri, and Ofra Benny. 2025. "Immunomodulatory Effects of a High-CBD Cannabis Extract: A Comparative Analysis with Conventional Therapies for Oral Lichen Planus and Graft-Versus-Host Disease" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 26, no. 21: 10711. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110711
APA StyleBlal, K., Rosenblum, R., Novak-Kotzer, H., Procaccia, S., Abu Tair, J., Casap, N., Meiri, D., & Benny, O. (2025). Immunomodulatory Effects of a High-CBD Cannabis Extract: A Comparative Analysis with Conventional Therapies for Oral Lichen Planus and Graft-Versus-Host Disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 26(21), 10711. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms262110711

