Wednesday, May 14, 2025 5/14/2025

Targeting autophagy to reduce inflammasome-mediated inflammation and immune dysfunction in HIV and methamphetamine use

Award Number: R01DA059873
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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Targeting autophagy to reduce inflammasome-mediated inflammation and immune dysfunction in HIV and methamphetamine use - Project Summary/Abstract Methamphetamine (MA), a potent addictive psychostimulant, is highly prevalent in HIV-infected individuals. Even for individuals with suppressive anti-retroviral therapy (ART), MA abuse has been linked to increased viral load, accelerated disease progression, and higher mortality rates in people living with HIV (PLWH). Despite well-documented evidence of MA's adverse effects on the central nervous system (CNS) and cognitive function, its effects on immunity remain unclear. Further research is needed to determine the molecular mechanisms of MA on the immune system, which could lead to targeted therapeutic interventions. Previous reports and our studies showed that MA could impair mitochondria function and exacerbate inflammasome activation and chronic inflammation during HIV infection. Autophagy, a homeostatic cellular mechanism involved in disposal of damaged organelles and intracellularly pathogens, has been reported to negatively regulate inflammasome activation. Our recent studies indicate that autophagy inducers such as rapamycin can induce autophagy, improve mitochondria function, reduce inflammasome activation and chronic inflammation in HIV infected humanized mice. We also observed improved anti-viral T cell immunity, reduced viral reservoir and lower viral rebound after ART withdrawal in rapamycin treated mice, suggesting its therapeutic potentials. In addition, we found that cannabis major components trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol(CBD) can potently induce autophagy and reduce inflammasome activation in stimulated macrophages. Therefore, we hypothesize that inducing autophagy through rapamycin or THC/CBD may offer therapeutic benefits in reducing inflammasome-mediated inflammation in both the periphery and CNS in individuals with HIV infection and MA use. This, in turn, could enhance anti-viral immunity and decrease viral reservoirs. We will study the following aims: 1) Determine the effects of methamphetamine on inflammasome activation and T cell dysfunction during HIV infection with or without ART; 2) Examine the therapeutic potential of targeting autophagy to reduce excessive inflammasome activation and restore T cell function during HIV infection and methamphetamine abuse; 3) Investigate the effects of MA and autophagy induction on HIV- associated CNS inflammation.


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 = $708,134 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	2	3/19/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$637,321
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	001	2	4/11/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$70,813
														Subtotal = $708,134

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $707,947 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES	10889 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 700	LOS ANGELES	CA	90024	LOS ANGELES	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	5/29/2024	NEW	$707,947
														Subtotal = $707,947

Grand Total All Awards = $1,416,081

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Targeting autophagy to reduce inflammasome-mediated inflammation and immune dysfunction in HIV and methamphetamine use

Award Number: R01DA059873

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

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