How opioids affect immune cells in people with HIV
Identification of opioid-induced innate immune dysregulation among people living with HIV
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11319734
This project will look at whether long-term opioid use changes how immune cells behave in people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PORTLAND, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11319734 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you have HIV and use opioids, researchers will collect blood samples to study a type of immune cell called a monocyte. Laboratory tests will measure how these cells produce energy (like glycolysis), how the mTORC1 signaling pathway works, and how cells respond when they are stimulated. The team will compare people with chronic opioid exposure to people with HIV who do not have opioid use disorder to find lasting immune changes. Findings may suggest ways to restore normal immune function and reduce inflammation-related health problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults living with HIV who are on antiretroviral therapy and have chronic opioid use or opioid use disorder would be ideal participants.
Not a fit: People without HIV, those with only short-term or no opioid exposure, or those unwilling to provide blood samples are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that reduce inflammation-related complications (such as heart disease, stroke, and cognitive problems) in people with HIV who use opioids.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies and the investigators' preliminary data show opioids can alter monocyte inflammatory responses, but connecting these effects to metabolic changes and mTORC1 signaling is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
PORTLAND, UNITED STATES
- OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY — PORTLAND, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BEVER, BRENT — OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: BEVER, BRENT
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