Heavy Cannabis Use Associated With Reduction in Activated and Inflammatory Immune Cell Frequencies in Antiretroviral Therapy-Treated Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Individuals

作者：Manuzak Jennifer A; Gott Toni M; Kirkwood Jay S; Coronado Ernesto; Hensley McBain Tiffany; Miller Charlene; Cheu Ryan K; Collier Ann C; Funderburg Nicholas T; Martin Jeffery N; Wu Michael C; Isoherranen Nina; Hunt Peter W; Klatt Nichole R^*

来源：Clinical Infectious Diseases, 2018, 66(12): 1872-1882.

DOI：10.1093/cid/cix1116

• cannabis
• HIV
• immune activation
• innate immunity
• adaptive immunity

Background. Cannabis is a widely used drug in the United States, and the frequency of cannabis use in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected population is disproportionately high. Previous human and macaque studies suggest that cannabis may have an impact on plasma viral load; however, the relationship between cannabis use and HIV-associated systemic inflammation and immune activation has not been well defined.
Methods. The impact of cannabis use on peripheral immune cell frequency, activation, and function was assessed in 198 HIV-infected, antiretroviral-treated individuals by flow cytometry. Individuals were categorized into heavy, medium, or occasional cannabis users or noncannabis users based on the amount of the cannabis metabolite 11-nor-carboxy-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-COOH) detected in plasma by mass spectrometry.
Results. Heavy cannabis users had decreased frequencies of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR(+)CD38(+)CD4(+) and CD8(+)T-cell frequencies, compared to frequencies of these cells in non-cannabis-using individuals. Heavy cannabis users had decreased frequencies of intermediate and nonclassical monocyte subsets, as well as decreased frequencies of interleukin 23-and tumor necrosis factor-a-producing antigen-presenting cells.
Conclusions. While the clinical implications are unclear, our findings suggest that cannabis use is associated with a potentially beneficial reduction in systemic inflammation and immune activation in the context of antiretroviral-treated HIV infection.

• 出版日期2018-6-15