Dual Role of Cannabidiol in Mitigating Apoptosis and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Complications of Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion

Halil Aşçı; Tuğçe Çamlıca; Orhan İmeci; Özlem Özmen

doi:10.17343/sdutfd.1706588

Dual Role of Cannabidiol in Mitigating Apoptosis and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Complications of Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion

Abstract

Objective: Lung ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a critical complication in thoracic surgeries and lung transplantation, leading to oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Secondary cardiac damage often occurs due to the systemic inflammatory response, highlighting the need for protective interventions. Cannabidiol (CBD), known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-apoptotic properties, may mitigate this damage through modulation of apoptotic (B-cell lymphoma 2 [Bcl-2], Bcl2-associated X protein [Bax] and inflammatory (interleukin 10 [IL-10]) markers. Material and Method: This study involved forty male Wistar albino rats divided into four groups: Control, Lung I/R induced cardiac injury (LICI), LICI treated with CBD (LICI+CBD), and CBD-only. Lung I/R was induced by clamping the left lung hilus for 60 minutes, followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion. The cardiac and aortic tissues were collected post-intervention, and histopathological as well as immunohistochemical analyses were conducted to assess the expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, and IL-10. Results: Histopathological findings revealed significant tissue damage in the LICI group, including increased hyperemia, hemorrhage, mononuclear cell infiltration, and necrosis compared to the control. CBD treatment markedly reduced these pathological markers. Immunohistochemical analysis showed a significant increase in pro-apoptotic Bax and a decrease in anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and IL-10 in the LICI group. Conversely, the LICI+CBD group demonstrated reduced Bax levels and elevated Bcl-2 and IL-10 expression, indicating CBD's role in reducing apoptosis and inflammation. Conclusion: CBD exhibits cardioprotective effects in lung I/R-induced cardiac injury by decreasing Bax-driven apoptosis, maintaining Bcl-2 levels, and upregulating IL-10 expression. These findings suggest CBD as a promising therapeutic agent for reducing secondary cardiac injury in lung I/R scenarios, though further studies are warranted to confirm its efficacy in clinical settings.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This research received funding from the Suleyman Demirel University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (grant number: TSG-2024-9515).

Project Number

TSG-2024-9515

Ethical Statement

The protocols for Animal Research have been followed for this study: Reporting in Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) 2.0 at all experiment stages. The Suleyman Demirel University local animal experimentation ethics committee accepted the experimental methodology, and the number: 508. In addition, this research received funding from the Suleyman Demirel University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (grant number: TSG-2024-9515).

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Basic Pharmacology

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Halil Aşçı
0000-0002-1545-035X
Türkiye

Tuğçe Çamlıca ^*
0000-0003-1940-1181
Türkiye

Orhan İmeci
0000-0002-3850-0137
Türkiye

Özlem Özmen
0000-0002-1835-1082
Türkiye

Publication Date

December 1, 2025

Submission Date

May 26, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 24, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 32 Number: 4

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17343/sdutfd.1706588

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA76FZ65JA

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Aşçı, H., Çamlıca, T., İmeci, O., & Özmen, Ö. (2025). Dual Role of Cannabidiol in Mitigating Apoptosis and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Complications of Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion. Medical Journal of Süleyman Demirel University, 32(4), 299-307. https://doi.org/10.17343/sdutfd.1706588

AMA

1.Aşçı H, Çamlıca T, İmeci O, Özmen Ö. Dual Role of Cannabidiol in Mitigating Apoptosis and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Complications of Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion. Med J SDU. 2025;32(4):299-307. doi:10.17343/sdutfd.1706588

Chicago

Aşçı, Halil, Tuğçe Çamlıca, Orhan İmeci, and Özlem Özmen. 2025. “Dual Role of Cannabidiol in Mitigating Apoptosis and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Complications of Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion”. Medical Journal of Süleyman Demirel University 32 (4): 299-307. https://doi.org/10.17343/sdutfd.1706588.

EndNote

Aşçı H, Çamlıca T, İmeci O, Özmen Ö (December 1, 2025) Dual Role of Cannabidiol in Mitigating Apoptosis and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Complications of Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion. Medical Journal of Süleyman Demirel University 32 4 299–307.

IEEE

[1]H. Aşçı, T. Çamlıca, O. İmeci, and Ö. Özmen, “Dual Role of Cannabidiol in Mitigating Apoptosis and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Complications of Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion”, Med J SDU, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 299–307, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.17343/sdutfd.1706588.

ISNAD

Aşçı, Halil - Çamlıca, Tuğçe - İmeci, Orhan - Özmen, Özlem. “Dual Role of Cannabidiol in Mitigating Apoptosis and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Complications of Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion”. Medical Journal of Süleyman Demirel University 32/4 (December 1, 2025): 299-307. https://doi.org/10.17343/sdutfd.1706588.

JAMA

1.Aşçı H, Çamlıca T, İmeci O, Özmen Ö. Dual Role of Cannabidiol in Mitigating Apoptosis and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Complications of Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion. Med J SDU. 2025;32:299–307.

MLA

Aşçı, Halil, et al. “Dual Role of Cannabidiol in Mitigating Apoptosis and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Complications of Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion”. Medical Journal of Süleyman Demirel University, vol. 32, no. 4, Dec. 2025, pp. 299-07, doi:10.17343/sdutfd.1706588.

Vancouver

1.Halil Aşçı, Tuğçe Çamlıca, Orhan İmeci, Özlem Özmen. Dual Role of Cannabidiol in Mitigating Apoptosis and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Complications of Lung Ischemia-Reperfusion. Med J SDU. 2025 Dec. 1;32(4):299-307. doi:10.17343/sdutfd.1706588