Effects of HIV infection and opioids on gut microbiota. Effects of HIV infection and opioids on gut microbiota

Opioid use is associated with worse outcome in HIV-infected patients. The exacerbated disease progression by opioids is mainly driven by increased epithelial damage and less regenerative response. The present study investigates how opioids potentiate HIV disease progression by impairing intestinal epithelial self-repair. Abnormal intestinal morphology and reduced epithelial proliferation were observed in HIV-infected humanized mice, which were exposed to opioids. For this study, we had 4 groups of BLT humanized mice- (A) Untreated, (B) Morphine treated, (C) HIV infected and (D) HIV infected + Morphine treated. HIV infection was done for 4 weeks and Morphine treatment was done for 7 days. Morphine treatment was done via subcutaneous implantation of slow-release morphine pellet in individual mouse in the appropriate groups. In other groups, a matching Placebo pellet was implanted.