How HIV and opioid use change gene activity in brain cells
Single nucleus gene expression in moderate and compulsive opioid self-administration in a rodent model of HIV
This project looks at how HIV and different patterns of opioid use change gene activity in brain cells to help explain memory and thinking problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scripps Research Institute, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177030 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers use a rat model that carries parts of the HIV virus and lets animals self-administer opioids under short-access (recreational) or long-access (compulsive) conditions. They will isolate single nuclei from neurons and glial cells in brain regions linked to addiction and cognitive decline and run single-nucleus RNA sequencing to read gene activity. The team will combine these data with systems-biology methods to build gene regulatory networks and find genes altered by the combination of HIV and opioid exposure. The goal is to identify molecular pathways that may drive neurodegeneration and cognitive impairment in the context of HIV and opioid use.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV who currently use or have a history of opioid use and who are experiencing memory or thinking problems would be the most relevant group for future clinical follow-up.
Not a fit: People without HIV, people who have never used opioids, or those whose cognitive problems stem from unrelated causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify specific genes or pathways to target for preventing or treating cognitive decline in people with HIV who use opioids.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell and single-nucleus sequencing studies have revealed cell-type-specific brain changes from HIV or opioid exposure, but combining HIV transgenic models with opioid self-administration and systems-level network reconstruction is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- Scripps Research Institute, the — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sanna, Pietro P — Scripps Research Institute, the
- Study coordinator: Sanna, Pietro P
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.