Mu opioid receptor activation in microglia enhances HIV-1 infection and HIV-infection-induced inflammatory responses.

ABSTRACT: People living with HIV-1 (PWH) and chronically using opioids have elevated risks of developing HIV-associated neurological disorders (HAND) that are often correlated with persistent inflammation. Microglia, innate immune cells in the brain, are the principal HIV-1 reservoir in the central nervous system and regulate neuroinflammation. Our group previously showed that HIV-1 infection of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived microglia and viral intron-containing RNA (icRNA) expression triggers inflammatory responses. Microglia express μ opioid receptor, MOR, yet the immunomodulatory effects of opioids on HIV-1 infection in microglia are unclear. Here, we report that MOR activation impacts HIV-1 infection establishment and HIV-1-induced innate responses in microglia. Morphine pretreatm

SUBMITTER: Skeete C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12536016 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature