1. Heavy Cannabis Use Associated With Reduction in Activated and Inflammatory Immune Cell Frequencies in Antiretroviral Therapy–Treated Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Infected Individuals
- Author
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Manuzak, Jennifer A, Gott, Toni M, Kirkwood, Jay S, Coronado, Ernesto, Hensley-McBain, Tiffany, Miller, Charlene, Cheu, Ryan K, Collier, Ann C, Funderburg, Nicholas T, Martin, Jeffery N, Wu, Michael C, Isoherranen, Nina, Hunt, Peter W, and Klatt, Nichole R
- Subjects
Medical Microbiology ,Biomedical and Clinical Sciences ,Immunology ,Substance Misuse ,Infectious Diseases ,Drug Abuse (NIDA only) ,HIV/AIDS ,Sexually Transmitted Infections ,Clinical Research ,Cannabinoid Research ,2.2 Factors relating to the physical environment ,2.1 Biological and endogenous factors ,Aetiology ,Inflammatory and immune system ,Infection ,Good Health and Well Being ,Anti-HIV Agents ,Antiretroviral Therapy ,Highly Active ,CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ,CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ,Dronabinol ,Female ,Flow Cytometry ,HIV Infections ,Humans ,Immunity ,Innate ,Inflammation ,Lymphocyte Activation ,Male ,Marijuana Abuse ,Middle Aged ,Monocytes ,Viral Load ,cannabis ,HIV ,immune activation ,innate immunity ,adaptive immunity ,Biological Sciences ,Medical and Health Sciences ,Microbiology ,Clinical sciences - Abstract
BackgroundCannabis is a widely used drug in the United States, and the frequency of cannabis use in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected population is disproportionately high. Previous human and macaque studies suggest that cannabis may have an impact on plasma viral load; however, the relationship between cannabis use and HIV-associated systemic inflammation and immune activation has not been well defined.MethodsThe impact of cannabis use on peripheral immune cell frequency, activation, and function was assessed in 198 HIV-infected, antiretroviral-treated individuals by flow cytometry. Individuals were categorized into heavy, medium, or occasional cannabis users or noncannabis users based on the amount of the cannabis metabolite 11-nor-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) detected in plasma by mass spectrometry.ResultsHeavy cannabis users had decreased frequencies of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR+CD38+CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell frequencies, compared to frequencies of these cells in non-cannabis-using individuals. Heavy cannabis users had decreased frequencies of intermediate and nonclassical monocyte subsets, as well as decreased frequencies of interleukin 23- and tumor necrosis factor-α-producing antigen-presenting cells.ConclusionsWhile the clinical implications are unclear, our findings suggest that cannabis use is associated with a potentially beneficial reduction in systemic inflammation and immune activation in the context of antiretroviral-treated HIV infection.
- Published
- 2018