In vivo effects of methamphetamine on HIV-1 replication: A population-based study

Background: Although a number of in vitro studies have shown that methamphetamine (METH) can increase HIV-1 replication in human immune cells, a direct link between METH use and HIV-1 pathogenesis remains to be determined among HIV-1 patients. Methods: According to the status of METH use and HIV-1 infection, we enrolled participants and divided them into four groups: METH+HIV+, METH HIV+, METH+HIV-, and METH-HIV-. HIV viral loads and HIV-1-related cellular factors were measured and compared among different groups. Results: A total of 60 participants were enrolled into this study, 15 within each group. HIV viral loads in METH+HIV+ group were significantly higher than those in METH HIV+ group, while CD4+ T cell counts had an inverse trend between the two groups (p <0.05). METH users or HIV-1 infected patients had lower CCR5+, CXCR4+ percentages in CD4+ T cells than METH-HIV- subjects (p <0.01). However, METH use had little effect on CD3 expression in PBMCs and the levels of MIP-l alpha, MIP-1 beta and IL-6 in PBMCs or plasma, which were increased by HIV-1 infection with or without METH. TLR-9 and IFN-alpha levels in PBMCs of METH users with or without HIV infection were higher than non-METH users (p <0.05). Conclusions: METH use is associated with higher viral loads and lower CD4+ T cell counts in HIV-infected individuals. This finding may be mediated by activation of innate immunity (TLR-9, IFN-alpha) by METH use. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.