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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
Characterization of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells by Imaging Flow Cytometry: A Comparison between Two Monocyte Isolation Protocols
Published on: October 18, 2016
Effect of methamphetamine on expression of HIV coreceptors and CC-chemokines by dendritic cells
Madhavan P N Nair1, Zainulabedin M Saiyed
1Department of Immunology, Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA. nairm@fiu.edu
Unlabelled:
The United States is currently experiencing an entangled epidemic of HIV infection and use of different drugs of abuse, especially of methamphetamine (Meth). Blood monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC) are the first line of defense against HIV-1 infection, and are the initial target of HIV-1 infection in injection drug users. DC-SIGN present on dendritic cells is the first molecule that facilitates HIV-1 infection independent of CD4 or HIV coreceptors.
Aims:
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether Meth acts as a cofactor in the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infection.
Main Methods:
Monocyte derived DCs, obtained from normal subjects were cultured with and without Meth±HIV-1B, followed by analyzing the gene and protein expression by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and fluorescence-activated cell-sorting analyses, respectively.
Key Findings:
Our results show that Meth significantly enhances HIV infection, and downregulates the gene expression of chemokines and costimulatory molecules with reciprocal upregulation of HIV coreceptors and DC-SIGN by dendritic cells.
Significance:
Better understanding of the role of Meth in HIV-1 disease susceptibility and the mechanism through which Meth mediates its effects on HIV-1 infection may help to devise novel therapeutic strategies against HIV-1 infection in Meth using HIV-1 infected population.
