| Autor: |
Okafor CN; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Long School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA., Somasunderam A; Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA., Lake JE; Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA., Gelfond J; Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA., Javanbakht M; Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA., Gorbach P; Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA., Shoptaw S; Department of Family Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA., Schmitz J; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA. |
| Abstrakt: |
Background: The relationship between cannabis and inflammation among persons with HIV (PWH) remains unclear. We examined whether the cannabis metabolite 11-nor-9-carboxy THC (THC-COOH) is associated with lower levels of plasma biomarkers of inflammation, immune activation, and microbial translocation in PWH. We hypothesized that cannabis use would be associated with lower levels of plasma inflammatory biomarkers than noncannabis use. Methods: We quantified THC-COOH in plasma, with THC-COOH levels between 5.1-69.9 μg/L and ≥70 μg/L being classified as moderate and heavy cannabis use, respectively, with noncannabis use defined as undetected THC-COOH. We measured a panel of plasma biomarkers of inflammation (interleukin [IL]-1- β , tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-18, IL-6, and C-reactive protein), immune activation (CD14 and CD163), and microbial translocation (iFABP2 and lipopolysaccharide binding protein [LBP]), with all biomarkers collected on the same day. We used a cross-sectional design and linear regression models to test whether cannabis use is associated with lower biomarker levels. Results: Participants were ( N =107) sexual minority men with HIV (median age=32 years, IQR=28, 38), of whom 65% were virally suppressed; 36%, 44%, and 20% were classified as nonuse, moderate, and heavy cannabis, respectively. In linear regression models adjusted for viral suppression, stimulant use, and CD4 counts, heavy cannabis use was significantly associated with lower levels of log 10 LBP ( β =-0.14, 95% confidence interval: -0.24 to -0.04; false discovery rate=0.0029; partial eta squared=0.07) than noncannabis users. No precise associations were observed for other biomarkers (all p >0.05). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that cannabis use may be associated with lower plasma LBP. Further work is needed to clarify the relationship between cannabis use and biomarkers of microbial translocation in PWH. |
