Chronic Morphine Administration Differentially Modulates Viral Reservoirs in a Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVmac251-Infected Rhesus Macaque Model
Arpan Acharya, Omalla A. Olwenyi, Michellie Thurman, Kabita Pandey, Brenda Morsey, Benjamin G. Lamberty, Natasha Ferguson, Shannon Callen, Fang Qiu, Shilpa Buch, Howard S. Fox, Siddappa N. Byrareddy
Abstract
Identification and clearance of HIV reservoirs is a major challenge in achieving a cure for HIV. This is further complicated by co-morbidities that may alter the size of the reservoirs. There is an overlap between the risk factors for HIV and opioid abuse. Opiates have been recognized as prominent co-morbidities in HIV-infected populations. People infected with HIV also abusing opioids have immune modulatory effects and more severe neurological disease. However, the impact of opioid abuse on HIV reservoirs remains unclear. In this study, we used morphine dependent SIVmac251 infected rhesus macaque (RM) model to study the impact of opioids on HIV reservoirs. Our studies suggested that people with HIV who abuse opioids had higher reservoirs in CNS than the lymphoid system. Extrapolating the macaque findings in humans suggests that such differential modulation of HIV reservoirs among people living with HIV abusing opioids could be considered for future HIV cure research efforts.