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Changes in Immune-Related Biomarkers and Endocannabinoids as a Function of Frequency of Cannabis Use in People Living
Conor H Murray1, Marjan Javanbakht1, Grace D Cho2
1UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids, Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Insights
People living with HIV (PLWH) show altered immune markers and lower endocannabinoid levels, independent of cannabis use frequency. Further research is needed to understand these complex relationships in HIV care.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Cannabis use is prevalent among people living with HIV (PLWH).
- Previous studies suggest a link between cannabis use and reduced immune markers in PLWH, but this requires confirmation.
- The impact of HIV on the body's natural cannabinoid system remains largely unstudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how immune biomarkers and endocannabinoids change in individuals with and without HIV based on their cannabis consumption frequency.
- To explore potential alterations in the endogenous cannabinoid system in the context of HIV infection.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study involving men who have sex with men in Los Angeles, with or at risk for HIV.
- Participants were categorized as either living with HIV or HIV-negative.
- Serum samples were analyzed for immune biomarkers, endocannabinoids, and paracannabinoids during periods of daily and infrequent cannabis use.
Main Results:
- People living with HIV (PLWH) exhibited higher levels of tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2) and CD27 compared to those without HIV.
- PLWH also showed significantly lower levels of anandamide (AEA) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA).
- The frequency of cannabis use did not correlate with significant changes in the measured serum analytes.
Conclusions:
- Elevated TNFR2 and CD27, coupled with reduced AEA and OEA, highlight the involvement of the TNF/TNFR pathway and fatty acid amide hydrolase activity in HIV.
- The study's findings on cannabis frequency may not be generalizable to all PLWH populations.
- Further investigation is necessary to fully elucidate the interplay between immune markers, endocannabinoids, and cannabis use in PLWH.
Abstract:
Background: Cannabis use is common among people living with HIV (PLWH). Some observational studies of PLWH have linked cannabis use to lower immune markers; however, this is yet to be confirmed. In addition, whether HIV affects the endogenous cannabinoid system has not been studied. Our objective was to examine changes in immune-related biomarkers and endocannabinoids as a function of cannabis use frequency in people living with and without HIV. Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from a longitudinal study of men who have sex with men living in Los Angeles with, or at risk for, HIV. By design, half were PLWH. Those eligible for the parent study were willing and able to return for follow-up every 6 months. Those eligible for inclusion in this study reported varying levels of current cannabis use at follow-up. Specifically, one visit corresponded to a period of daily use and another to a period of infrequent use (weekly, monthly, or less than monthly). Banked serum from all eligible participants was analyzed for immune-related biomarkers, endocannabinoids, and paracannabinoids. Results: The analysis included 36 men, 19 of whom were PLWH. PLWH reported greater lifetime methamphetamine or amphetamine use (68% vs. 0%) and current cigarette use (55% vs. 20%) than people without HIV. Serum levels of HIV-related immune biomarkers including tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2; p=0.013) and CD27 (p=0.004) were greater in PLWH, alongside lower anandamide (AEA) (F1,34=5.337, p=0.027) and oleoylethanolamide (OEA) (F1,34=8.222, p=0.007) levels relative to people without HIV. Frequency of cannabis use did not impact the serum analytes in our study. Conclusions: Higher levels of TNFR2 and CD27 and lower levels of AEA and OEA in PLWH underscore the role of the TNF/TNFR superfamily in HIV, while highlighting a new role for the enzymatic activity of fatty acid amide hydrolase (the enzyme that hydrolyzes AEA and OEA) in HIV. Findings that cannabis frequency did not impact the immune phenotype may not generalize to other populations of PLWH. Additional work is required to further clarify the relationship between immune markers and endocannabinoids as a function of cannabis use frequency in PLWH. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT01201083.
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