How brain immune cells and past cocaine use change circuits in people with HIV
Microglial modulation of neurocircuits in HIV/cocaine comorbidity
This project looks at whether changes in brain immune cells and dopamine from past cocaine use can make thinking and decision-making worse in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11051148 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses lab-grown brain cells and an animal model of HIV to explore how brain immune cells (microglia) interact with nerve cell connections after exposure to psychostimulants like cocaine. Researchers will expose sex-specific cell cultures to HIV and stimulants, and use animals that self-administer cocaine to compare brain dopamine and microglial behavior before and after infection with a rodent form of HIV (EcoHIV). They will use genetic tools to remove viral genes, mimic antiretroviral therapy, and pay attention to sex differences to pinpoint mechanisms of spine loss and circuit dysfunction. The goal is to link microglial changes and dopamine signaling to real problems with choice and executive function seen after HIV and stimulant histories.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV who have a history of cocaine or other psychostimulant use and who are experiencing cognitive or decision-making difficulties would be the most relevant group for this line of research.
Not a fit: People without HIV or without a history of stimulant use — and those not experiencing cognitive symptoms — are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this project in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal targets to protect brain circuits and reduce thinking and decision-making problems in people with HIV who have a history of stimulant use.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and animal studies have linked microglia, dopamine, and synaptic loss to HIV-related brain injury, but combining HIV and cocaine models to test causal mechanisms is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Columbia, United States
- University of South Carolina at Columbia — Columbia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Booze, Rosemarie M — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Booze, Rosemarie M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.