On the way to elucidate the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on living organisms - assessment of changes in the global transcription profile of kidney in a mouse model

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a phytocannabinoid known for its anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anxiolytic, antipsychotic, and anticonvulsant effects. The systemic administration of CBD also has the potential to impact kidney function, either beneficially or adversely. This study aims to examine the effects of CBD on behavior, immune system activity, and stress levels, and to determine its impact on transcriptomic alterations in selected organs of mice. (Study funded by the National Science Centre, Poland; project no. 2020/39/O/NZ9/00821) Overall design: Male mice of the standard C57BL/6J strain were used. The animals were added to the long-term intraperitoneal CBD administration (28 days). There were two subgroups receiving different doses of CBD - medium (10 mg/kg bw) and high, used in some clinical trials (20 mg/kg bw). Additionally, a control group (placebo/vehicle) was maintained. Chemically pure Cannabidiol (CBD) was administered intraperitoneally (in the research group) to ensure that the substances reached the blood vessels of the digestive system. CBD was administered in a single daily dose. The mice were housed under standard conditions and with standard feeding and watering ad libitum. They were also examined every third day to determine well-being and health. After the period of CBD administration, the mice were immediately euthanized and organs such as the brain, spleen and liver, kidneys, and others were collected. In this part of the experiment, kidney samples were used to isolate the total RNA. The obtained RNA was quality assessed and used to prepare directional libraries for high throughput transcriptome sequencing using CORALL mRNA-Seq V2 kit (Lexogen). The libraries were sequenced commercially in a 2x150bp paired-end run. The obtained sequence data were used to analyze the differential expression between the different CBD dosages and the control group. Differentially expressed genes were classified into particular processes or functions and were subjected to statistical testing for overrepresentation. The synthesis of the obtained data will allow to propose of potential mechanisms of CBD action and create an atlas of changes taking place in the transcriptome of the main target organs. (Study funded by the National Science Centre, Poland; project no. 2020/39/O/NZ9/00821)