Beyond the Brain: The Role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Viroimmune Responses to Antiretroviral Therapy among People Living with HIV with and without Alcohol Use.
Given the emerging data suggesting the key role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the immune system, we assessed longitudinally whether BDNF depletions induced by hazardous alcohol use (HAU) would impact a response to antiretroviral therapy (ART).



In a prospective single-site cohort, virological and immunological responses to ART in 200 hazardous and 200 nonhazardous users were obtained, along with plasma BDNF levels.



Hazardous drinkers were more likely to have BDNF levels <4000 pg/mL (odds ratio [OR] = 1.6, P = .01). Participants with BDNF <4000 pg/mL were less likely to have CD4 counts of more than 500 cells/mm(3) (P = .02) and to achieve viral suppression over the follow-up period (OR = 1.5, P = .03). Multivariate analysis confirmed the significant role of HAU and low BDNF in predicting viroimmune responses.



Hazardous alcohol use was associated with BDNF alterations, which in turn were linked to a limited response to ART in terms of viral suppression and CD4 count improvements.
School of Integrated Science and Humanity, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA mjmiguez@fiu.edu.
María José
MJ
Míguez-Burbano
Department of Medicine, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
Luis
L
Espinoza
School of Integrated Science and Humanity, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
Diego
D
Bueno
School of Integrated Science and Humanity, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
Mayra
M
Vargas
Departments of Epidemiology and Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Allison B
AB
Trainor
School of Integrated Science and Humanity, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.
Clery
C
Quiros
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
John E
JE
Lewis
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA.
Deshratn
D
Asthana
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019562:Viral Load
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C579455:BDNF protein, human
BDNF; CD4; HIV/AIDS; alcohol; viral load