Are we hallucinating or can psychedelic drugs modulate the immune system to control inflammation?
Qureshi, Omar Cowley, Jamie Pegg, Ashley Cooper, Alison J Gordon, John Brady, Catherine A Belli, Antonio Butterworth, Sam Upthegrove, Rachel Andrews, Nick
Qureshi, Omar
Cowley, Jamie
Pegg, Ashley
Cooper, Alison J
Gordon, John
Brady, Catherine A
Belli, Antonio
Butterworth, Sam
Upthegrove, Rachel
Andrews, Nick
Abstract
Psychedelic drugs that activate 5-HT receptors have been long used for cultural, medicinal and recreational purposes. Interest in psychedelics for treating psychiatric disorders has resurged recently and is well documented; less well recognised are their anti-inflammatory properties. Growing evidence now demonstrates that psychedelics modulate immune responses, including inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Furthermore, in vivo studies demonstrate that psychedelics, like (R)-DOI, reduce inflammation in animal models of acute and chronic inflammatory disease such as asthma. Likewise, some clinical studies with psychedelic drugs (e.g. psilocybin) demonstrate an impact upon circulating cytokine levels, supporting a translation from the animal models to the clinical arena. Such data emphasise the promise of therapeutic approaches targeting inflammation. Interestingly, recent research has also uncovered compounds that maintain therapeutic potential without likely causing psychedelic effects. These discoveries suggest that drugs informed by psychedelic drugs, but which do not evoke psychedelic experiences, which we term PIPI drugs (Psychedelic drug Informed but Psychedelic experience Inactive), could offer effective treatments for mental health and inflammation, presenting new avenues for therapeutic development. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue Emerging Therapeutic Opportunities for Psychedelic and Related Drugs. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v183.14/issuetoc.
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Date
2025-07-28
Type
Article
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Citation
Qureshi O, Cowley J, Pegg A, Cooper AJ, Gordon J, Brady CA, Belli A, Butterworth S, Upthegrove R, Andrews N, Barnes NM. Are we hallucinating or can psychedelic drugs modulate the immune system to control inflammation? Br J Pharmacol. 2026 Jul;183(14):4006-4021. doi: 10.1111/bph.70138. Epub 2025 Jul 28.