The synthetic opioid fentanyl increases HIV replication and chemokine co-receptor expression in lymphocyte cell lines

Fentanyl enhanced expression of CXCR4 and CCR5 protein levels and viral expression in a dose-dependent manner in multiple HIV-susceptible and HIV-infected cell lines. Multiple genes associated with apoptosis, antiviral / interferon response, chemokine. signaling, and NFκB signaling were differentially regulated by fentanyl. Thus fentanyl impacts HIV replication and chemokine co-receptor expression in HIV-susceptible and HIV-infected lymphocyte cell lines suggesting that opioid use may increase the likelihood of transmission to others and accelerate disease progression. ACH-2 cells were analyzed in presence and abscenece of fentanyl. Cells were treated with 100ng of fentanyl for 24 hours. ACH-2 cells without fentanyl treatment is considered as control. Both control and test were performed in replicates. Total RNA was extracted from both fentanyl-treated and untreated ACH-2 cells miRNA Isolation Kit