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- Title
Heavy Cannabis Use Associated With Reduction in Activated and Inflammatory Immune Cell Frequencies in Antiretroviral Therapy-Treated Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Individuals.
- Authors
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
- Abstract
Background. Cannabis 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. Methods. The 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. Results. Heavy 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. Conclusions. While 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.
- Subjects
MEDICAL marijuana; ANTIRETROVIRAL agents; CANNABIS (Genus); FLOW cytometry; HIV infections; HIV-positive persons; INFLAMMATION; INTERLEUKINS; MASS spectrometry; MONOCYTES; SUBSTANCE abuse; T cells; TERPENES; TUMOR necrosis factors; HLA-B27 antigen
- Publication
Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2018, Vol 66, Issue 12, p1872
- ISSN
1058-4838
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/cid/cix1116