Classic psychedelics do not affect T cell and monocyte immune responses.

Classic psychedelics LSD, psilocin, DMT, and mescaline do not directly alter the proliferation or cytokine release of primary human T lymphocytes, nor do they stimulate NF-κB induction in monocytes. These findings indicate no relevant direct immune-modulatory effects of these substances on the tested human immune cells in vitro. The results support the safety of using classic psychedelics in assisted psychotherapy for patients with life-threatening conditions where immune suppression would be harmful.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Classic psychedelics have been shown to exert therapeutic potential for the treatment of various psychiatric disorders, neuropsychiatric diseases, and neuronal damage. Besides their psychopharmacological activity, psychedelics have been reported to modulate immune functions. There has thus far been a sparse exploration of the direct immune-modulating effect of psychedelics on human immune cells in vitro. Since T cells are key mediators of several immune functions, inhibition of their function would increase the risk of infections. We investigated the effect of the classic psychedelics lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), psilocin, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and mescaline on the proliferation and stimulated cytokine release of primary human T lymphocytes and on the stimulated NF-κB induction of monocytes. We did not observe any relevant direct immune-modulatory effects of the tested classic psychedelics in either cell line. We concluded that LSD, psilocin, DMT, or mescaline did not directly stimulate the proliferation or cytokine secretion of primary human T lymphocytes or stimulate NF-κB induction of monocytes. Our findings support the future safe use of classic psychedelics in assisted psychotherapy in patients with life-threatening diseases where immune suppression and diminished immune function would be detrimental.