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Jha NA, Ayoub SM, Flesher MM, Morton K, Sikkink M, de Guglielmo G, Khokhar JY, Minassian A, Brody AL, Young JW. Acute nicotine vapor normalizes sensorimotor gating and reduces locomotor activity deficits in HIV-1 transgenic rats. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.18.599641. [PMID: 38948796 PMCID: PMC11212989 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.18.599641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Rationale Despite improved life expectancy of people with HIV (PWH), HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment (NCI) persists, alongside deficits in sensorimotor gating and neuroinflammation. PWH exhibit high smoking rates, possibly due to neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and cognitive-enhancing effects of nicotine, suggesting potential self-medication. Objectives Here, we tested the effects of acute nicotine vapor exposure on translatable measures of sensorimotor gating and exploratory behavior in the HIV-1 transgenic (HIV-1Tg) rat model of HIV. Methods Male and female HIV-1Tg and F344 control rats (n=57) were exposed to acute nicotine or vehicle vapor. Sensorimotor gating was assessed using prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response, and exploratory behavior was evaluated using the behavioral pattern monitor (BPM). Results Vehicle-treated HIV-1Tg rats exhibited PPI deficits at low prepulse intensities compared to F344 controls, as seen previously. No PPI deficits were observed in nicotine-treated HIV1-Tg rats, however. HIV-1Tg rats were hypoactive in the BPM relative to controls, whilst nicotine vapor increased activity and exploratory behavior across genotypes. Cotinine analyses confirmed comparable levels of the primary metabolite of nicotine across genotypes. Conclusions Previous findings of PPI deficits in HIV-1Tg rats were replicated and, importantly, attenuated by acute nicotine vapor. Evidence for similar cotinine levels suggest a nicotine-specific effect in HIV-1Tg rats. HIV-1Tg rats had reduced exploratory behavior compared to controls, attenuated by acute nicotine vapor. Therefore, acute nicotine may be beneficial for remediating sensorimotor and locomotor activity deficits in PWH. Future studies should determine the long-term effects of nicotine vapor on similar HIV/NCI-relevant behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neal A. Jha
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Samantha M. Ayoub
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - M. Melissa Flesher
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kathleen Morton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Megan Sikkink
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Giordano de Guglielmo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jibran Y. Khokhar
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario 1151 Richmond Street, London, ON N61 3K7, Canada
| | - Arpi Minassian
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Arthur L. Brody
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
| | - Jared W. Young
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA 92161, USA
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Ayoub SM, Holloway BM, Miranda AH, Roberts BZ, Young JW, Minassian A, Ellis RJ. The Impact of Cannabis Use on Cognition in People with HIV: Evidence of Function-Dependent Effects and Mechanisms from Clinical and Preclinical Studies. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2024; 21:87-115. [PMID: 38602558 PMCID: PMC11129923 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-024-00698-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Cannabis may have beneficial anti-inflammatory effects in people with HIV (PWH); however, given this population's high burden of persisting neurocognitive impairment (NCI), clinicians are concerned they may be particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of cannabis on cognition. Here, we present a systematic scoping review of clinical and preclinical studies evaluating the effects of cannabinoid exposure on cognition in HIV. RECENT FINDINGS Results revealed little evidence to support a harmful impact of cannabis use on cognition in HIV, with few eligible preclinical data existing. Furthermore, the beneficial/harmful effects of cannabis use observed on cognition were function-dependent and confounded by several factors (e.g., age, frequency of use). Results are discussed alongside potential mechanisms of cannabis effects on cognition in HIV (e.g., anti-inflammatory), and considerations are outlined for screening PWH that may benefit from cannabis interventions. We further highlight the value of accelerating research discoveries in this area by utilizing translatable cross-species tasks to facilitate comparisons across human and animal work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Ayoub
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0804, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0804, USA.
| | - Breanna M Holloway
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0804, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0804, USA
| | - Alannah H Miranda
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0804, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0804, USA
| | - Benjamin Z Roberts
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0804, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0804, USA
| | - Jared W Young
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0804, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0804, USA
- Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Arpi Minassian
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive MC 0804, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0804, USA
- VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Administration San Diego HealthCare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Ronald J Ellis
- Department of Neuroscience, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Ayoub S, Kenton JA, Milienne-Petiot M, Deben DS, Achim C, Geyer MA, Perry W, Grant IE, Young JW, Minassian A. iTat transgenic mice exhibit hyper-locomotion in the behavioral pattern monitor after chronic exposure to methamphetamine but are unaffected by Tat expression. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2023; 222:173499. [PMID: 36462584 PMCID: PMC10014034 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) has increased the quality of life and lifespan in people living with HIV (PWH), millions continue to suffer from the neurobehavioral effects of the virus. Additionally, the abuse of illicit drugs (methamphetamine in particular) is significantly higher in PWH compared to the general population, which may further impact their neurological functions. The HIV regulatory protein, Tat, has been implicated in the neurobehavioral impacts of HIV and is purported to inhibit dopamine transporter (DAT) function in a way similar to methamphetamine. Thus, we hypothesized that a combination of Tat expression and methamphetamine would exert synergistic deleterious effects on behavior and DAT expression. We examined the impact of chronic methamphetamine exposure on exploration in transgenic mice expressing human Tat (iTat) vs. their wildtype littermates using the behavioral pattern monitor (BPM). During baseline, mice exhibited sex-dependent differences in BPM behavior, which persisted through methamphetamine exposure, and Tat activation with doxycycline. We observed a main effect of methamphetamine, wherein exposure, irrespective of genotype, increased locomotor activity and decreased specific exploration. After doxycycline treatment, mice continued to exhibit drug-dependent alterations in locomotion, with no effect of Tat, or methamphetamine interactions. DAT levels were higher in wildtype, saline-exposed males compared to all other groups. These data support stimulant-induced changes of locomotor activity and exploration, and suggest that viral Tat and methamphetamine do not synergistically interact to alter these behaviors in mice. These findings are important for future studies attempting to disentangle the effect of substances that impact DAT on HAND-relevant behaviors using such transgenic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Ayoub
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Johnny A Kenton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Morgane Milienne-Petiot
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Debbie S Deben
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America; Division of Pharmacology, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Cristian Achim
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Mark A Geyer
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America; Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - William Perry
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Igor E Grant
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | - Jared W Young
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America; Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States of America.
| | - Arpi Minassian
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States of America; VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, Veterans Administration San Diego HealthCare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Drive, San Diego, CA, United States of America
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