Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32554630›Full record

Observational studyNeurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation2020

Recent cannabis use in HIV is associated with reduced inflammatory markers in CSF and blood.

Ronald J Ellis, Scott N Peterson, Yueling Li, Rachel Schrier, Jenny Iudicello, Scott Letendre, Erin Morgan, Bin Tang, Igor Grant, Mariana Cherner

Open access · goldAbstract readObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Neurology(R) neuroimmunology & neuroinflammation, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 43 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
43citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
5.4field-weighted citation impact, top 4% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

43 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 59 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. The impact of cannabis on immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: a systematic review of immunomodulatory effects of cannabis in patients with and without cancer.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
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  5. Neuroimmune Correlates of HIV and Marijuana Use: Peripheral Biomarkers and Cognitive Function.Journal of neuroimmune pharmacology : the official journal of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology · 2026
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  13. Motor-Related Neural Dynamics are Modulated by Regular Cannabis Use Among People with HIV.Journal of neuroimmune pharmacology : the official journal of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Ronald J EllisFrom the Departments of Neurosciences and Psychiatry (R.J.E.), University of California, San Diego; Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (S.N.P.); LECOM health - Millcreek Community Hospital (Y.L.), Erie, PA; Department of Pathology (R.S.), Department of Psychiatry (J.I., E.M., B.T., I.G., M.C.), and Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry (S.L.), University of California, San Diego. roellis@ucsd.edu.ORCID 0000-0003-4931-752X
Scott N PetersonFrom the Departments of Neurosciences and Psychiatry (R.J.E.), University of California, San Diego; Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (S.N.P.); LECOM health - Millcreek Community Hospital (Y.L.), Erie, PA; Department of Pathology (R.S.), Department of Psychiatry (J.I., E.M., B.T., I.G., M.C.), and Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry (S.L.), University of California, San Diego.
Yueling LiFrom the Departments of Neurosciences and Psychiatry (R.J.E.), University of California, San Diego; Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (S.N.P.); LECOM health - Millcreek Community Hospital (Y.L.), Erie, PA; Department of Pathology (R.S.), Department of Psychiatry (J.I., E.M., B.T., I.G., M.C.), and Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry (S.L.), University of California, San Diego. roellis@ucsd.edu.
Rachel SchrierFrom the Departments of Neurosciences and Psychiatry (R.J.E.), University of California, San Diego; Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (S.N.P.); LECOM health - Millcreek Community Hospital (Y.L.), Erie, PA; Department of Pathology (R.S.), Department of Psychiatry (J.I., E.M., B.T., I.G., M.C.), and Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry (S.L.), University of California, San Diego.
Jenny IudicelloFrom the Departments of Neurosciences and Psychiatry (R.J.E.), University of California, San Diego; Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (S.N.P.); LECOM health - Millcreek Community Hospital (Y.L.), Erie, PA; Department of Pathology (R.S.), Department of Psychiatry (J.I., E.M., B.T., I.G., M.C.), and Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry (S.L.), University of California, San Diego.
Scott LetendreFrom the Departments of Neurosciences and Psychiatry (R.J.E.), University of California, San Diego; Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (S.N.P.); LECOM health - Millcreek Community Hospital (Y.L.), Erie, PA; Department of Pathology (R.S.), Department of Psychiatry (J.I., E.M., B.T., I.G., M.C.), and Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry (S.L.), University of California, San Diego.
Erin MorganFrom the Departments of Neurosciences and Psychiatry (R.J.E.), University of California, San Diego; Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (S.N.P.); LECOM health - Millcreek Community Hospital (Y.L.), Erie, PA; Department of Pathology (R.S.), Department of Psychiatry (J.I., E.M., B.T., I.G., M.C.), and Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry (S.L.), University of California, San Diego.
Bin TangFrom the Departments of Neurosciences and Psychiatry (R.J.E.), University of California, San Diego; Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (S.N.P.); LECOM health - Millcreek Community Hospital (Y.L.), Erie, PA; Department of Pathology (R.S.), Department of Psychiatry (J.I., E.M., B.T., I.G., M.C.), and Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry (S.L.), University of California, San Diego.
Igor GrantFrom the Departments of Neurosciences and Psychiatry (R.J.E.), University of California, San Diego; Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (S.N.P.); LECOM health - Millcreek Community Hospital (Y.L.), Erie, PA; Department of Pathology (R.S.), Department of Psychiatry (J.I., E.M., B.T., I.G., M.C.), and Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry (S.L.), University of California, San Diego.
Mariana ChernerFrom the Departments of Neurosciences and Psychiatry (R.J.E.), University of California, San Diego; Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (S.N.P.); LECOM health - Millcreek Community Hospital (Y.L.), Erie, PA; Department of Pathology (R.S.), Department of Psychiatry (J.I., E.M., B.T., I.G., M.C.), and Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry (S.L.), University of California, San Diego.ORCID 0000-0002-5479-7401
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine · US

Funding

STRUCTURAL NEUROIMAGING COREP30MH062512 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · PI Jessica Lynette Montoya · 2001 to 2026
$50.4M
Translational Methamphetamine AIDS Research Center (TMARC)P50DA026306 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · PI GRANT, IGOR · 2009 to 2018
$33.9M
Identification of Biomarkers of CNS injury and resilience related to HIV-1 and MethamphetamineR01DA047879 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · PI IUDICELLO, JENNIFER E, LETENDRE, SCOTT L · 2018 to 2022
$3.7M
Cannabis, inflammation, and the brain in persons with HIVR01DA053052 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · PI IUDICELLO, JENNIFER E · 2020 to 2024
$3.2M
Mentoring Clinical Researchers at the Intersection of NeuroHIV and Substance AbuseK24DA040550 · NIDA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · PI CHERNER, MARIANA · 2015 to 2025
$1.8M
NIDA NIH HHS K24 DA040550NIDA NIH HHS P50 DA026306NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA047879NIDA NIH HHS R01 DA053052NIMH NIH HHS P30 MH062512
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo determine whether cannabis may reduce HIV-related persistent inflammation, we evaluated the relationship of cannabis use in people with HIV (PWH) to inflammatory cytokines in CSF and blood plasma.

methodsWe measured a panel of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-16, C-reactive protein [CRP], IL-6, interferon gamma-induced protein [IP]-10, soluble CD14, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type II [sTNFRII]) in CSF and blood plasma in PWH and HIV- individuals who did or did not use cannabis at various levels of exposure. Participants in this observational cohort were recruited from community sources and underwent lumbar puncture and phlebotomy. Cannabis use parameters were characterized by self-report based on a semistructured timeline follow-back interview. Cytokines were measured using commercially available immunoassays. Data were analyzed using factor analysis.

resultsParticipants were 35 PWH and 21 HIV- individuals, mean (SD) age 45.4 (14.5) years, 41 cannabis ever users, and 15 never users. PWH and HIV- were not different in recency, cumulative months, grams, or density of cannabis use. A factor analysis using CSF biomarkers yielded a factor loading on CRP, IL-16, and sTNFRII that was significantly associated with recency of cannabis use (more recent use associated with lower factor 1 values, reflecting less inflammation; r = 0.331 [95% CI 0.0175, 0.586]). In particular, more recent cannabis use was related to lower IL-16 levels (r = 0.549 [0.282, 0.737]). Plasma biomarkers yielded a factor loading on sTNFRII and IP-10 that was associated with more recent cannabis use (more recent use related to less inflammation; r = 0.374 [0.0660, 0.617]).

conclusionsRecent cannabis use was associated with lower levels of inflammatory biomarkers, both in CSF and blood, but in different patterns. These results are consistent with compartmentalization of immune effects of cannabis. The principal active components of cannabis are highly lipid soluble and sequestered in brain tissue; thus, our findings are consistent with specific anti-neuroinflammatory effects that may benefit HIV neurologic dysfunction.

Indexed as

CytokinesHIV InfectionsInflammationMarijuana UseAdultAgedCannabinoidsCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedCannabinoidsCytokines

Identifiers

PMID32554630
PMCPMC7309527
OpenAlexW3036847675

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.