Project dates: April 2012 - March 2018
Principal Investigator: Deren, Sherry (Co-Investigator)
Previous research by the study team found increased levels of immune activation systemically and in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) in HIV-1 uninfected injection drug users. However, it was not clear what was causing the increased activation. This study explored complex questions regarding increased immune activation in HIV-1 uninfected injection drug users. These included: greater understanding of how increased immune activation in blood and tissue is associated with active injection drug use; if it is possible to separate the effects of different contributors (e.g., HCV) to the increased immune activation; and if and how increased levels can be reversed when injection use stops. Important new information will be learned regarding increased immune activation associated with injection drug use.
Abstract on NIH RePORTERThe relationship between injection drug use risk behaviors and markers of immune activation
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 75 (1), e8-e12. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001270. PMCID: PMC5388567.
Markowitz M, Deren S, Cleland C, La Mar M, Silva E, Batista P, St. Bernard L, Gettie N, Rodriguez K, Evering TH, Lee H, Mehandru S (2016).
Chronic hepatitis C infection and the pro-inflammatory effects of injection drug use
Journal of Infectious Diseases, 214 (9), 1376-1382. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiw373. PMCID: PMC5079368.
Batista P, Deren S, Banfield A, Silva E, Cruz M, Garnes P, Cleland CM, Mehandru S, LaMar M, Markowitz M (2016).
Challenges in recruiting people who use drugs for HIV-related biomedical research: Perspectives from the field
AIDS Patient Care and STDS, 30 (8), 379-384. doi: 10.1089/apc.2016.0135. PMCID: PMC4991596.