The synthetic opioid fentanyl increases HIV replication in macrophages.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The illicit use of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl has led to a serious public health crisis in the US. People with opioid use disorder are more likely to contract infections such as HIV and viral hepatitis and experience more severe disease. While several drugs of abuse are known to enhance viral replication and suppress immunologic responses, the effects of synthetic opioids on HIV pathogenesis have not been investigated thoroughly. Thus, we examined the impact of fentanyl on HIV replication and chemokine receptor expression in the U937 cell line and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs).

Methods

U937 cells were exposed to varying concentrations of fentanyl. Expression levels of the CXCR4 and CCR5 chemokine receptors were measured in cell lysates. HIV p24 antig

SUBMITTER: Madhuravasal Krishnan J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11867328 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature