What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: THC, CBD.

Where was this research published?

Published in Toxicology on July 8, 2026.

How CBD and THC reshape immune cell development in bone marrow

Q: What did this research study find?

This groundbreaking study examined how *CBD* and *THC*—the two most well-known compounds in cannabis—affect the development of immune cells from human bone marrow stem cells. Researchers cultured these stem cells for 28 days with varying doses of both cannabinoids and observed significant changes in

Cannabidiol and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol alter human hematopoiesis by enhancing B cell lineage commitment.

Toxicology • July 8, 2026 • Moderately Relevant

🤖

AI Summary

This groundbreaking study examined how CBD and THC—the two most well-known compounds in cannabis—affect the development of immune cells from human bone marrow stem cells. Researchers cultured these stem cells for 28 days with varying doses of both cannabinoids and observed significant changes in immune cell development. Both CBD and THC accelerated the maturation of stem cells and dramatically increased the production of early B cells (immune cells crucial for antibody production), while also increasing other immune cell types like monocytes and megakaryocyte progenitors.

Notably, the study found that monocytes and dendritic cells developed in the presence of CBD showed enhanced ability to engulf and destroy pathogens, suggesting improved immune function. Surprisingly, the immune effects of THC did not operate through the cannabinoid type 2 receptor—the mechanism typically associated with immune modulation in cannabis. This discovery reveals that cannabinoids influence the immune system through multiple biological pathways, some of which researchers don't yet fully understand.

The findings raise important questions about the safety of regular cannabis and cannabinoid use, particularly regarding long-term impacts on immune cell development and function. While the results are promising for potential therapeutic applications, the researchers emphasize that more investigation is needed to understand whether altering immune cell development could have positive or negative consequences for users, especially among younger individuals whose immune systems are still developing.

📄 Original Abstract

Cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the best characterized biologically active compounds in Cannabis sativa, are recognized for their therapeutic and immune modulating properties. An important knowledge gap is the effects of CBD and THC on different developing physiological systems. Here, the effects of CBD and THC on the early stages of human immune cell development from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) were investigated in vitro over 28 days. Concentrations used ranged from 1 to 10μM. Both CBD and THC induced loss of CD34 expressing HSPCs in a concentration-dependent manner at several time-points, suggesting accelerated differentiation of HSPCs to downstream progenitors. Interestingly, both CBD and THC elicited a strong increase in CD19+ early B cell populations. With CBD and THC, there was also a trend towards an increase in the percentage of monocytes at early time points, with significant increases at several time points at 10µM, and an increase in the proportion of megakaryocyte progenitors at later time-points. We also found that monocytes and type 2 classical dendritic cells that developed in presence of CBD had greater phagocytic capacity. Changes mediated by THC were not mediated through the cannabinoid type 2 receptor. This study demonstrated, for the first time, that CBD and THC alter human HSPC differentiation in a largely similar manner, and identified the differential effect each compound has on hematopoietic lineage development in vitro. These results support the need for more investigation to determine the safety of cannabis and cannabinoid product use from the perspective of immune cell development.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Toxicology
Published: July 8, 2026
PMID: 42419677
DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2026.154537

Authors (3)

D M Isha Olive Khan Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, Michigan, USA.
Robert B Crawford Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, Michigan, USA.
Norbert E Kaminski Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, Michigan, USA; Center for Research on Ingredient Safety, Michigan State University, Michigan, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, Michigan, USA. Electronic address: kamins11@msu.edu.