Deletion of cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 exacerbates APC function to increase inflammation and cellular immunity during influenza infection

Deletion of cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 causes increased sensitivity to immune activation in APC, thereby exacerbating inflammation and cellular immune responses to influenza infection. We and others have reported that simultaneous targeted deletion of CB1 and CB2 resulted in exacerbation of immune reactivity, suggesting a role of endocannabinoids in down‐regulating immune function. In this study, we demonstrate that APC function is enhanced specifically in the absence of CB1 and CB2 signaling, resulting in an exacerbated immune response phenotype. After influenza infection, CB1−/−CB2−/− mice showed more pronounced pulmonary damage, increased inflammatory cell infiltrate, inflammation, and a greater cellular immune responses compared with WT mice, as evidenced by transcriptome analysis, more robust T cell activation, and effector cell cytokine production. After direct activation in vitro, there were no differences in the percentages of cytokine‐producing CD4+ T cells between CB1−/−CB2−/− and WT mice. However, untreated CB1−/−CB2−/− mice routinely had fewer naïve T cells compared with WT, suggesting dysregulation of APC immune homeostasis. Moreover, bmDCs and AM isolated from CB1−/−CB2−/− mice exhibited a more mature phenotype, with and without TLR stimulation, and bmDCs elicited T cells more robustly than WT mice. Collectively, these findings implicate a role for CB1 and CB2 on APCs in regulating immune responses and immune homeostasis.