Probable deceleration of progression of Simian AIDS affected by opiate dependency: studies with a rhesus macaque/SIVsmm9 model.
OBJECTIVE
To determine effects of opiate dependency on development of simian AIDS.


METHODS
Assessments of viral, immune, and clinicopathological status were conducted on rhesus macaques before and after establishment of opiate dependency and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus, sooty mangabey, strain-9 (SIVsmm9) infection. Controls received saline.


METHODS
Blood was collected at baseline, before opiate dependencies, and viral infections were established and then after SIVsmm9 infection, longitudinally, through 216 weeks. Plasma viral titers were assessed using the branched chain DNA assay and CD4 and CD8 counts via cytofluorometry. Clinicopathological assessments of AIDS were founded on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other selected criteria.


RESULTS
AIDS progression rates seemed to be decelerated and survival times increased by opiate dependency. Mean viral titers were unaffected by opiate exposure. Opiate-dependent monkeys that evidenced high initial viral titers survived significantly longer than controls. Several opiate-dependent monkeys maintained high viral titers for atypically extended durations. Several (5/19) opiate-dependent monkeys died or were removed early from the study due to "non-AIDS" causes.


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term opiate dependency seemed to decelerate the rate of progression to AIDS in the SIVsmm9 monkey model. This effect was most evident in monkeys with high initial viral titers/set points. "Non-AIDS" morbidities and mortalities were noted as potential confounds of epidemiological assessments of the role of opiates in HIV/AIDS.
Donahoe
Robert M
RM
Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-5650, USA. robert.donahoe@path.utah.edu
O'neil
Shawn P
SP
Marsteller
Frederick A
FA
Novembre
Francis J
FJ
Anderson
Daniel C
DC
Lankford-Turner
Pamela
P
McClure
Harold H
HH
D000818:Animals; D018450:Disease Progression; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D016097:Simian Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D015302:Simian Immunodeficiency Virus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019562:Viral Load