Social Genomics of Methamphetamine Use, HIV Viral Load, and Social Adversity

Michael J Li; Emily I Richter; Chukwuemeka N Okafor; Mariah M Kalmin; Shareefa Dalvie; Sae Takada; Pamina M Gorbach; Steven J Shoptaw; Steven W Cole

doi:10.1093/abm/kaab096

Social Genomics of Methamphetamine Use, HIV Viral Load, and Social Adversity

Ann Behav Med. 2022 Aug 30;56(9):900-908. doi: 10.1093/abm/kaab096.

Authors

Michael J Li^{1

2}, Emily I Richter³, Chukwuemeka N Okafor⁴, Mariah M Kalmin^{1

2}, Shareefa Dalvie^{5

6}, Sae Takada⁷, Pamina M Gorbach^{2

3}, Steven J Shoptaw^{1

2

8}, Steven W Cole⁸

Affiliations

¹ Center for Behavioral and Addiction Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
² Center for HIV Identification, Prevention and Treatment Services, Department of Family Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
³ Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁴ Department of Public Health, Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.
⁵ South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Unit on Risk & Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁶ South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Unit on Child & Adolescent Health, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁷ Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
⁸ Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Abstract

Background: Social genomics has demonstrated altered inflammatory and type I interferon (IFN) gene expression among people experiencing chronic social adversity. Adverse social experiences such as discrimination and violence are linked to stimulant misuse and HIV, conditions that dysregulate inflammatory and innate antiviral responses, leading to increased HIV viral replication and risk of chronic diseases.

Purpose: We aimed to determine whether methamphetamine (MA) use, unsuppressed HIV viral load (VL) (≥200 c/mL), and experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) (past 12 months) predicted inflammatory and type I IFN gene expression in HIV-positive Black and Latinx men who have sex with men (MSM).

Methods: Participants were 147 HIV-positive Black and Latinx MSM recruited from the mSTUDY, a cohort of 561 MSM aged 18-45 in Los Angeles, CA, of whom half are HIV-positive and substance-using. Transcriptomic measures of inflammatory and type I IFN activity were derived from RNA sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and matched to urine drug tests, VL, and survey data across two time points 12 months apart. Analysis used linear random intercept modeling of MA use, unsuppressed VL, and experienced IPV on inflammatory and type I IFN expression.

Results: In adjusted models, MA use predicted 27% upregulated inflammatory and 31% upregulated type I IFN expression; unsuppressed VL predicted 84% upregulated type I IFN but not inflammatory expression; and experienced IPV predicted 31% upregulated inflammatory and 26% upregulated type I IFN expression.

Conclusions: In Black and Latinx MSM with HIV, MA use, unsuppressed VL, and experienced IPV predicted upregulated social genomic markers of immune functioning.

Keywords: Gene expression; HIV; Immune system; Methamphetamine; Transcriptome; Viral load.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Genomics
HIV Infections*
Homosexuality, Male
Humans
Leukocytes, Mononuclear
Male
Methamphetamine* / adverse effects
Sexual and Gender Minorities*
Viral Load

Substances

Methamphetamine

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding