THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL ON SIV PATHOGENESIS

Tulane University Of Louisiana, New Orleans LA

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Abstract

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. There is clearly an association between HIV infection and alcohol use. However, determining whether alcohol intake results in physiologic or immunologic conditions that increase the risk or susceptibility to infection rather than simply resulting in persons engaging in riskier behavior simply cannot be easily deciphered in humans. We are continuing to examine the interaction SIV and alcohol use in the well-controlled macaque model, which can distinguish these factors. In previous years we showed that animals receiving alcohol had higher viral loads, more central memory cells in the intestine. We are now focusing on comparative studies of immune responses and systemic inflammation in animals on alcohol, with and without SIV. We are comparing polyfunctional CTL responses by intracellular cytokine staining, and comparing local and systemic inflammation in animals on alcohol and those that are not by histology, immunohistochemistry, and microarray technology for tight junction proteins. We are also comparing plasma LPS levels in macaques on alcohol to controls, with and without SIV infection. Our hypothesis is that alcohol induces more mucosal inflammation leading to the increased levels of central memory cells, which may be reflected by higher levels of general systemic inflammation and higher viremia. This could have significance as a risk factor for persons who are consuming alcohol.