The Effect of Cannabidiol and HU308 on Extracellular Vesicle Populations of HIV-1 Infected Monocytes

Abstract

Currently, over 38.4 million people are infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Although there is no cure, 75 percent of people infected living with HIV-1 use combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) to stop the progression of HIV-1 into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Even with cART, viral reservoirs in the brain undergo low and undetectable amounts of HIV-1 replication that result in the release of viral proteins and proinflammatory cytokines in extracellular vesicles (EVs). As a result, 20-50 percent of people infected with HIV-1 develop a spectrum of HIV-1 Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND). cART has decreased the rate of the most severe form of HAND. However, the prevalence of milder forms of HAND has increased, as neuroinflammation still persists even with cART treatment. Cannabidiol (CBD) and HU308 have been shown to decrease inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS), and could have potential therapeutic effects for HAND. In this study, we investigated the effect of CBD and HU308 on HIV-1-infected monocytes.