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Role of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Mediating Microglial Activation and Development of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Induced by HIV, Antiretrovirals and Cocaine

Award Number: R01DA054826
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/15/2021
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

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Role of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Mediating Microglial Activation and Development of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Induced by HIV, Antiretrovirals and Cocaine - Abstract Although people living with HIV (PLWHIV) have comparable life-expectancy as the HIV-negative population does, their life-quality is still deeply compromised due to the prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety. The main pathological changes in the brains of those people include aberrant microglial (Mg) activation and neuronal injuries. Drug abuse is a high comorbidity of HIV infection and abused drugs could exaggerate the existing neurologic complications in PLWHIV. The detailed mechanisms underlying such phenomenon remain much elusive. Several contributing factors have been suggested for such neurological disorders including the continued expression HIV proteins such as trans-activator of transcription (TAT), the long-term use of antiretrovirals (ARVs), and drugs of abuse. Our preliminary data demonstrated that :1) NLRP3 inflammasome signaling was involved in HIV-TAT-mediated Mg activation; 2) cocaine activated Mg through dysregulating miR-124/TLR4 axis, which could be reversed by inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome; 3) combination ARVs used in clinical practice (tenofovir:TFV, emtricitabine:FTC, and dolutegravir:DTG) could activate Mg via lysosomal dysfunction; 4) co-exposure of Mg to three agents (TAT, cocaine, and ARVs) intriguingly resulted in increased activity of NLRP3 inflammasome in vitro; 5) IL1β, the final executor of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, decreased the spine density and increase the glutamate receptor ionotropic NMDA subunits (Grins) in vitro; and 6) increased NLRP3 inflammasome activity was shown in the brains of SIV-infected macaque. Based on these findings and two distinct steps of NLRP3 inflammasome activation, we hypothesize that exacerbated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the context of HIV-TAT/HIV, cocaine, ARVs will lead to exaggerated Mg activation and neuronal injuries, which are responsible for the high incidence of neuropsychiatric disorders in PLWHIV with cocaine use. We will test this hypothesis in the following two specific aims (SA) using complimentary in vitro and in vivo approaches. SA1: Investigate the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in Mg activation and neuronal injuries in the context of HIV-TAT/HIV, cocaine, & ARVs. We will split this SA into three sub aims. SA1A will explore the detailed mechanisms responsible for exaggerated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in vitro; SA1B will explore the mechanisms underlying NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated neuronal injuries; and SA1C will investigate the status of NLRP3 inflammasome and neuronal injuries in archived SIV- infected macaque brains and HIV-infected individuas with or without cocaine use. SA2: Explore the potential therapeutic effects of NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition on neuropsychiatric behaviors in HIV iTat mice in vivo.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $375,999 )
2025	2025	OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY	HAMPTON BLVD	NORFOLK	VA	23529	NORFOLK CITY	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	002	5	6/17/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$375,999
2025	2024	OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY	HAMPTON BLVD	NORFOLK	VA	23529	NORFOLK CITY	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	001	4	4/1/2025	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$325,333
2025	2023	OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY	735 FAIRFAX AVE STE 909	NORFOLK	VA	23507	NORFOLK CITY	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	3	4/1/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$325,333
														Subtotal = $375,999

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $375,971 )
2024	2024	OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY	HAMPTON BLVD	NORFOLK	VA	23529	NORFOLK CITY	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	001	4	6/28/2024	CHANGE OF GRANTEE / TRAINING INSTITUTION / AWARDING INSTITUTION	$375,971
2024	2023	EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL	735 FAIRFAX AVE STE 909C	NORFOLK	VA	23507	NORFOLK CITY	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	3	6/28/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $375,971

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $375,942 )
2023	2023	EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL	735 FAIRFAX AVE STE 909C	NORFOLK	VA	23507	NORFOLK CITY	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	3	6/30/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$375,942
														Subtotal = $375,942

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $754,644 )
2022	2022	EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL	735 FAIRFAX AVE STE 909C	NORFOLK	VA	23507	NORFOLK CITY	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	001	2	7/29/2022	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$375,000
2022	2022	EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL	735 FAIRFAX AVE STE 909C	NORFOLK	VA	23507	NORFOLK CITY	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	2	6/27/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$379,644
														Subtotal = $754,644

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $384,660 )
2021	2021	EASTERN VIRGINIA MEDICAL SCHOOL	358 MOWBRAY ARCH STE 305	NORFOLK	VA	23507	NORFOLK CITY	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	8/3/2021	NEW	$384,660
														Subtotal = $384,660

Grand Total All Awards = $2,267,216

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Role of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Mediating Microglial Activation and Development of Neuropsychiatric Symptoms Induced by HIV, Antiretrovirals and Cocaine

Award Number: R01DA054826

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/15/2021

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2026

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