Evaluation of nanoemulsified tetrahydrocannabidiol (H4CBD) in the experimental treatment of Listeria monocytogenes infection: anti-inflammatory, bactericidal activity and immunological response.
cytokines, mice, listeriosis, immunosuppression, synthetic cannabinoid.
Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous bacterium that is highly relevant to public health and the etiological agent of listeriosis, a foodborne infection characterized by febrile gastroenteritis, sepsis, meningitis, maternal-neonatal infections, and spontaneous abortions. It primarily affects immunocompromised individuals and is associated with high mortality rates. In light of increasing antimicrobial resistance and the emergence of new bioactive compounds, the search for alternative therapeutic strategies has become urgent. This study used experimental models with Swiss mice infected with L. monocytogenes and treated for up to five days with nanoemulsions containing tetrahydrocannabidiol (H₄CBD), a synthetic analog of cannabidiol (CBD), at three predefined concentrations (0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 mg/kg). Bacterial load was quantified in the blood, spleen, and liver; total and differential leukocyte counts were performed; and histopathological analyses were conducted on the liver, spleen, kidneys, brain, lungs, and heart. The relative expression of the inflammatory mediators IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10 was assessed via RT-qPCR. The findings demonstrate that H₄CBD possesses immunomodulatory properties, although its antimicrobial effects are both dose- and time dependent. These results support its potential use as an adjuvant in therapeutic strategies, especially in the control of inflammatory responses, and reinforce the need for further investigation into its mechanisms of action.