Characterization of Oral-to-Blood Microbial DNA Translocation in Chronic Cocaine Use Disorder

Chronic cocaine use exhibits a compromised gut barrier, systemic microbial translocation, and systemic and neural inflammation, ultimately contributing to long-term health issues. However, there is a debate about whether cocaine itself is capable of inducing inflammation. In the current study, we investigate whether the oral cavity can be the source of blood microbial DNA translocation in chronic cocaine users. Overall design: We recruited individuals with chronic cocaine use disorder and non-drug-using controls and collected paired saliva and blood samples. Microbial DNA was isolated, and the microbial 16S rRNA V4 region was sequenced. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to assess immune perturbations