# Effects of Mu-opiate receptor engagement on the persistence of HIV-associated activation and viral reservoirs in individuals receiving medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder

> **NIH NIH R01** · WISTAR INSTITUTE · 2021 · $156,933

## Abstract

SUMMARY
The administration of effective anti- SARS-CoV-2 vaccines capable of eliciting a protective immune response in
a large proportion of the population is a major public heath priority in combating Coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19). Our studies indicates that the functionality of soluble antibodies (i.e.: humoral immunity) is affected
by chronic inflammation, such as chronic HIV infection and/or opioid use. Our short-term objective is to evaluate
the quality and persistence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response in people living with HIV (PLWH) a) receiving
a SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, b) on treatment with suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) and c) on treatment
with mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonists methadone or buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD). Based on
the literature and our pilot studies, our primary hypothesis is that in ART-treated PLWH receiving MOR
agonists-based treatment and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination will result in shorter retention of neutralizing titers and
with different qualitative antibody responses [including lower antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity
(ADCC)/antibody-dependent cell phagocytosis (ADCP)] when compared to vaccine responses in ART
suppressed PLWH who do not use opioids. To address this hypothesis, we will study a cohort of 90 PLWH
receiving suppressive ART (VL < 50 c/ml) at approximately 4, 8 and 12 months from SARS-CoV-2 vaccination,
in the following groups: (1) OUD on methadone, (2) OUD on buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), and (3) ART-
only non-OUD control. We will test our hypothesis by completion of the following aims:
Specific Aim 1. To quantify functional anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses by measuring: (a) SARS-CoV-2
antibody response by total binding antibody to Spike protein, and titers of neutralizing antibody against of Vero
cells infected with wildtype SarsCoV2 (WA1/2020-Wuhan) or variants of concern (B.1.1.7-UK, or B.1.351-South
Africa); (b) Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody activity in recruiting innate immune functions by complement deposition
(ADCD), phagocytosis (ADCP), and cytotoxicity (ADCC).
Specific Aim 2. To evaluate the relationships between SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses, immune activation
and HIV latency by measuring: (a) Microbial translocation and mucosal integrity by assessing plasma markers
of bacterial translocation (e.g.: sCD14, sCD163, LPS, EndoCAB), and mucosal structural integrity (e.g.: Intestinal
fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) and Zonulin-1); (b) Levels of cell-associated HIV DNA (intact and total), HIV
RNA (different transcript), and HIV transcriptional activity (ratio of HIVDNA/HIV RNA. The successful completion
of this study will provide novel insights on the ability of ART-suppressed PLWH receiving treatment with MOR
agonists to fully benefit from SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10381326
- **Project number:** 3R01DA049666-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** WISTAR INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Luis J Montaner
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $156,933
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-08-01 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10381326

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10381326, Effects of Mu-opiate receptor engagement on the persistence of HIV-associated activation and viral reservoirs in individuals receiving medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder (3R01DA049666-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10381326. Licensed CC0.

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