title: Retinoids and drugs of abuse: implications for neurological disease risk in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.
abstract: Among injection drug users, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1 infection may be associated with an increased risk of nervous system disease. For HIV-infected drug users with vitamin A deficiency, the overall risk of HIV-related morbidity and mortality may also be higher. In previous studies, levels of retinol, retinol-binding protein, and transthyretin in samples from such individuals were examined and found to be lower than such levels in seronegative control subjects. Also, in studies using an activated mononuclear cell line, all-trans retinoic acid and 9-cis retinoic acid suppressed production of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma. However, simultaneous exposure of the cells to morphine at a concentration similar to that to which drug users are exposed resulted in increased production of these cytokines. Therefore, morphine may alter the immunomodulatory effects of retinoids, thereby potentially affecting the clinical outcome of studies involving retinoid administration to HIV-infected drug users and increasing the risk for the development of HIV-related complications, including neurological disease.
authors.affiliation: Morehouse School of Medicine, Neuroscience Institute, Atlanta, Georgia 303101495, USA. wroyal@msm.edu
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Royal
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vlahov
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lyles
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Gajewski
mesh_terms: D015526:AIDS Dementia Complex / Q000209:etiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000378:metabolism; D012176:Retinoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D011228:Prealbumin; D012176:Retinoids; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D009020:Morphine