# Endocannabinoid system and HIV-related neuropathic pain

> **NIH NIH R21** · TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIS CENTER · 2021 · $229,500

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV)-related chronic neuropathic pain affects a majority (55-67%) of the 38
million infected individuals worldwide. Despite the ability of current anti-retroviral therapy (ART) to limit the
progression of HIV to AIDS, HIV-positive individuals continue to experience neuropathic pain. Treatment options
are limited, often ineffective, and adverse side effects are common. Although therapeutic use (self-medication)
of cannabis by HIV-infected people is growing in addition to an interest in the possible medicinal use of cannabis,
particularly for pain management, to date, there are no data on whether and how the endocannabinoid system
(eCB) is regulated in the HIV-related chronic neuropathic pain. For example, is eCB system functional and
effective in controlling neuropathic pain, or impaired in the context of HIV-related neuropathic pain? Moreover,
whether and how the exposure to cannabinoids affects the components of the eCB system in this condition is
still unknown. This CEBRA research project is designed to address this knowledge gap to provide critical
directions for the field of eCB and HIV research in the ART era. Our central hypothesis is that in the ART era,
the eCB system remains functional and effective in HIV-related chronic neuropathic pain. To test this
hypothesis a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach including behavioral, pharmacological, molecular
biology, biochemistry, and Liquid Chromatograph Mass Spectrometry assays will be used. We will use the HIV
transgenic rats (HIV-tg) neuropathic model that mimics the HIV chronic condition in the ART era. Aim 1 will
perform the first preclinical studies to characterize the status of the eCB system (e.g., endogenous ligands,
enzymes involved in eCB metabolism, and CB receptors) in the key areas involved in pain control in the HIV-tg
neuropathic model. The components of the eCB system will be analyzed for gene and proteins expression
patterns, signaling, levels of endogenous cannabinoids and/or activity enzymatic. Aim 2 will determine the effect
(acute and chronic) of clinically relevant cannabinoid agonists with different pharmacological profiles) on
neuropathic pain-like behaviors and eCBs in the HIV-tg model. We will use behavioral assessments of sensory
and aversive qualities of pain in HIV-tg to test the analgesic effects of these cannabinoids. Additionally, we will
also monitor for cannabinoid side effects.
The proposed studies will significantly advance the fields of HIV chronic pain management and cannabinoids in
the ART era by providing a critical and fundamental new knowledge of the eCB system status in HIV-related
chronic neuropathic pain. The novel concept that eCB system is functional and effective in this HIV chronic
condition would pave the way for clinically relevant research on cannabinoid-based mechanisms and strategies
in HIV-related chronic neuropathic pain in the ART era.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10242327
- **Project number:** 1R21DA053824-01
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIS CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Khalid Benamar
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $229,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2023-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10242327

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10242327, Endocannabinoid system and HIV-related neuropathic pain (1R21DA053824-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10242327. Licensed CC0.

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