Methamphetamine enhances HIV infection of macrophages.
Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that the use of methamphetamine (meth), a sympathomimetic stimulant, is particularly common among patients infected with HIV. However, there is a lack of direct evidence that meth promotes HIV infection of target cells. This study examined whether meth is able to enhance HIV infection of macrophages, the primary target site for the virus. Meth treatment resulted in a significant and dose-dependent increase of HIV reverse transcriptase activity in human blood monocyte-derived macrophages. Dopamine D1 receptor antagonists (SCH23390 and SKF83566) blocked this meth-mediated increase in the HIV infectivity of macrophages. Investigation of the underlying mechanisms of meth action showed that meth up-regulated the expression of the HIV entry co-receptor CCR5 on macrophages. Additionally, meth inhibited the expression of endogenous interferon-alpha and signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 in macrophages. These findings provide direct in vitro evidence to support the possibility that meth may function as a cofactor in the immunopathogenesis of HIV infection and may lead to the future development of innate immunity-based intervention for meth users with HIV infection.
Liang
Hao
H
Division of Allergy and Immunology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Wang
Xu
X
Chen
Hui
H
Song
Li
L
Ye
Li
L
Wang
Shi-Hong
SH
Wang
Yan-Jian
YJ
Zhou
Lin
L
Ho
Wen-Zhe
WZ
D015647:2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000821:virology; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019713:Receptors, CCR5 / Q000378:metabolism; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D014779:Virus Replication
D015647:2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine; D001552:Benzazepines; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008694:Methamphetamine; D019713:Receptors, CCR5; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494079:STAT1 protein, human; C044846:SKF83566