Impaired cytokine production and suppressed lymphocyte proliferation activity in HCV-infected cocaine and heroin ("speedball") users.
Title | Impaired cytokine production and suppressed lymphocyte proliferation activity in HCV-infected cocaine and heroin ("speedball") users. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2006 |
Authors | Ríos-Olivares, E, Vilá, LM, Reyes, JC, Rodríguez, JW, J Colón, HM, Pagán, NO, Marrero, A, Ríos-Orraca, ZM, Boukli, NM, Shapshak, P, Robles, RR |
Journal | Drug Alcohol Depend |
Volume | 85 |
Issue | 3 |
Pagination | 236-43 |
Date Published | 2006 Dec 1 |
ISSN | 0376-8716 |
Keywords | Adolescent, Adult, Cell Proliferation, Cocaine-Related Disorders, Cytokines, Female, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Heroin Dependence, HIV Infections, Humans, Leukocytes, Mononuclear, Male, Th1 Cells, Th2 Cells |
Abstract | HCV-infected "speedball" users (n = 30) were selected from an original cohort of 400 intravenous drug users for cytokine analysis. Cytokine concentrations (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12) were determined in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) cultures derived ex vivo from these patients. In addition, lymphocyte proliferation was measured in 49 HCV-positive "speedball" users. TNF-alpha, IL-6, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 cytokines and not IL-1beta were significantly increased in plasma from HCV-positive "speedball" users compared with healthy controls. Except for IL-10, all other cytokines measured were augmented in phytohemagglutinin-stimulated PBMC cultures from HCV-positive "speedball" users. Likewise, overproduction of cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6 and IFN-gamma, was consistently detected when PBMC cultures from HCV-positive "speedball" users were stimulated with a biological response modifier. However, HCV-infected "speedball" users showed significant reduction in lymphoproliferative activity. Compared with healthy subjects, there was a consistent overproduction of both TH1 and TH2 type cytokines in the plasma and PBMC's of HCV-infected "speedball" users. Furthermore, there was a persistent reduction of lymphoproliferative activity in this group. These immunologic abnormalities, coupled with the range of response between the two TH-types in HCV-infected "speedball" users, suggest impairment in the regulatory mechanism of the TH1-TH2 system. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.05.013 |
Alternate Journal | Drug Alcohol Depend |
PubMed ID | 16766138 |
Grant List | 5R24DA13335 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States G12RR03035 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States U54NS039408 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States |