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. 2023 Oct 1:251:110942.
doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110942. Epub 2023 Aug 23.

Stimulant use, HIV, and immune dysregulation among sexual minority men

Emily M Cherenack  1 , Jennifer V Chavez  2 , Claudia Martinez  3 , Sabina Hirshfield  4 , Raymond Balise  2 , Keith J Horvath  5 , Michael Viamonte  2 , Daniel E Jimenez  6 , Robert Paul  7 , Samantha E Dilworth  8 , Britt DeVries  2 , Suresh Pallikkuth  9 , Mario Stevenson  10 , Thaissa Cordeiro Alvarado  10 , Savita Pahwa  9 , Adam W Carrico  2
Affiliations

Stimulant use, HIV, and immune dysregulation among sexual minority men

Emily M Cherenack et al. Drug Alcohol Depend. .

Abstract

Background: Sexual minority men (SMM) report high rates of stimulant use (e.g., crystal methamphetamine, cocaine) and HIV infection. Stimulant use contributes to immune dysfunction, which enhances risk for HIV acquisition and pathogenesis. Research is needed to examine the independent and interactive relationships of stimulant use and HIV infection with systemic immune dysregulation among SMM, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: From 2020-2022, 75 SMM in Miami, Florida with and without HIV completed an online survey and provided biospecimens to assess HIV status and viral load (VL), recent stimulant use, and soluble markers of immune activation and inflammation in plasma, including soluble CD14 (sCD14) and elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP > 1.0mg/L). Sociodemographics and prior SARS-CoV-2 infection were compared across HIV status/stimulant use groups. Moderation models examined the independent and interactive associations of stimulant use and HIV status with sCD14 and elevated hs-CRP.

Results: Thirty participants were persons living with HIV (PWH) (50% with stimulant use), and 45 were HIV-negative (44% with stimulant use). SARS-CoV-2 infection was not associated with stimulant use/HIV groups or immune outcomes. HIV-negative SMM without stimulant use had lower sCD14 compared to other SMM, as well as lower odds of elevated hs-CRP compared to PWH who used stimulants. Stimulant use showed independent associations with immune dysregulation that persisted after controlling for HIV status and VL, whereas HIV status was only independently associated with elevated hs-CRP in one model not controlling for VL.

Conclusions: Among SMM, stimulant use was independently associated with elevated immune activation and inflammation.

Keywords: HIV; High sensitivity C-reactive protein; Inflammation; SCD14; Sexual minority men; Stimulant use.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest No Conflict Declared.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
A partial residual plot from an ordinary least squares linear regression examining the interaction between HIV status and stimulant use in relation to sCD14 among sexual minority men in South Florida (n = 74). Points are estimates of sCD14 while controlling for tobacco use severity, error bars are 95% confidence intervals. The overall model was significant, F(4, 69) = 5.074, p = 0.001.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
An interaction plot from a logistic regression examining the interaction between HIV status and stimulant use on the predicted probability of having an elevated hs-CRP (> 1 mg/L) among sexual minority men in South Florida (n = 75). Points are predicted probabilities, while error bars are 95% confidence intervals. Overall model was significant, χ2(3) = 10.647, p = 0.014.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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