How HIV and methamphetamine affect the gut–brain connection and mood
Inflammasome Activation and Gut-Brain Axis Dysregulation in HIV and Methamphetamine-Associated Depression
Looks at whether HIV infection and methamphetamine use trigger immune responses in the gut that weaken barrier defenses and contribute to depression in people with HIV or who use meth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Miami School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Coral Gables, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258972 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use a humanized mouse model that carries human immune cells, infect it with HIV, and expose it to methamphetamine to mirror conditions seen in people. They will study gut microbes, inflammasome-driven immune signals, and the integrity of the gut and blood‑brain barriers. The team will measure neuroinflammation and depression‑like behaviors in the animals and link those findings to changes in the gut and immune activation. Results are intended to point to specific gut or immune changes that could be targeted to help mood problems in people with HIV and meth use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV and people who use methamphetamine—especially those experiencing depression or mood changes—are the populations most directly relevant to this work.
Not a fit: People whose depression is unrelated to HIV infection or methamphetamine exposure, or whose condition is driven by unrelated medical or psychiatric causes, are unlikely to benefit directly from these findings in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent or treat depression in people with HIV and/or methamphetamine use by targeting gut microbes, barrier protection, or inflammasome-driven inflammation.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research links gut microbes, inflammation, and depression and shows neuroinflammation in HIV, but applying inflammasome and gut‑brain mechanisms specifically to HIV plus methamphetamine exposure is largely novel.
Where this research is happening
Coral Gables, United States
- University of Miami School of Medicine — Coral Gables, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Toborek, Michal — University of Miami School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Toborek, Michal
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.