Unraveling neuroHIV in the Presence of Substance Use Disorders

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In a special issue of the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, ten review papers by NIDA grantees and scientists highlight the interactive, additive, or synergistic effects of substance use disorders with HIV infection on the immune system. These papers explore how the use and misuse of opioids, tobacco, stimulants, and cannabis along with comorbid HIV impact the  dopaminergic and immune systems and the subsequent neurological and behavioral disorders known as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND).

These reviews address how each of these addictive substances and HIV individually or collectively affect the immune system at the cellular, molecular, and system levels, and subsequent clinical and behavioral outcomes. The authors also identify gaps, confounds, or constraints in the current disease models and approaches, and propose future research directions.

The papers were originally presented during a NIDA preconference workshop at the 25th Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology conference in 2019, and links are presented here as a courtesy from the NIDA HIV Research Program.

The individual papers can be found here:

Table of Contents link: https://link.springer.com/journal/11481/volumes-and-issues/15-4