How morphine and an HIV protein may harm the brain and whether a protective drug can help
Impacts of morphine and HIV-Tat exposures and dimethylfumarate treatment on brain BDNF and mitochondrial and behavioral dysfunction.
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · NIH-11261052
This project tests whether the drug dimethyl fumarate can protect brain cells and related behaviors in people affected by HIV and opioid exposure.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11261052 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will use laboratory and animal models to expose brain cells and animals to morphine and the HIV Tat protein and then measure mitochondrial health and levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). They will monitor animal behaviors that mirror mood, anxiety, and cognitive signs seen in people with HIV and opioid use disorder. The team will treat some models with dimethyl fumarate, an antioxidant drug, to see if it prevents or reverses mitochondrial and BDNF damage and improves behavior. Results are intended to clarify biological pathways linking HIV and opioid effects on the brain and to identify treatments worth testing in humans.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People living with HIV—particularly those with current or past opioid use or opioid use disorder—are the population most likely to benefit from this line of research.
Not a fit: People without HIV and those never exposed to opioids are unlikely to directly benefit from these findings in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new therapies that protect brain health and reduce mood or cognitive problems in people with HIV who use opioids.
How similar studies have performed: Prior laboratory and animal studies show that opioids and HIV proteins can damage mitochondria and lower BDNF, and some preclinical work suggests antioxidants like dimethyl fumarate might help, but human evidence is very limited.
Where this research is happening
GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA — GAINESVILLE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MCLAUGHLIN, JAY P. — UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
- Study coordinator: MCLAUGHLIN, JAY 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.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus