Away from their better-known effects on perception and emotion, psychedelic drugs may also hold the key to treating a wide range of inflammatory diseases including neurodegenerative conditions and gut and respiratory disorders.
In a review called "Are we hallucinating or can psychedelic drugs modulate the immune system to control inflammation?" published in the British Journal of Pharmacology, researchers from the University of Birmingham have highlighted the emerging therapeutic potential of a new class of compounds derived from psychedelics.
They call these new molecules PIPI drugs (Psychedelic drug Informed but Psychedelic-experience Inactive drugs), and say these could open the door to safe, targeted therapies for widespread use in clinical settings.
The scientists, led by Professor Nicholas Barnes, CEO of University of Birmingham spin-out Celentyx, examined evidence on how psychedelics may do more than just alter consciousness, and may in fact influence immune system function.
This makes psychedelic-derived drugs promising candidates for diseases and conditions featuring inflammation.
The team found that research points to psychedelics also influencing neuroinflammation, which is a critical factor in brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, as well as schizophrenia and depression.
"This work highlights a frontier in psychedelic research that could transform how we treat some of the most challenging and persistent diseases of our time,” said Professor Barnes, Chair of the IUPHAR 5-HT Receptor Nomenclature Committee.
A key drug target of many psychedelics is the serotonin 5-HT2A receptor in the brain. However, these receptors are also found in other tissues, including immune cells.
Most significantly, the anti-inflammatory actions of psychedelics may be biologically distinct from the mechanisms responsible for their well-known hallucinogenic effects.
This means it may be possible to develop next-generation treatments that harness the therapeutic power of psychedelics without inducing hallucinations or changes in perception.
Professor Barnes, who has studied the 5-HT receptor system for more than 40 years, added: “It may mark a major shift in how we address chronic diseases where inflammation delivers pathology. As PIPI drugs move into clinical investigation, we hope their therapeutic potential is translated to deliver benefit to patients."