The Impact of Addictive Drugs on HIV Immunopathogenesis

Substance Use Disorder (SUD) is associated with neurocognitive disorders as well as with alterations of the immune system function. Different addictive drugs exhibit differences in neurocognitive performance and immune response against inflammation. In HIV disease, SUD is associated with increased HIV susceptibility and infection, HIV replication, blunted CD4⁺ T cell reconstitution under viral suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), perturbations of immune system and accelerated HIV-associated neurologic disorders (HAND). To date, extensive studies have been done to understand high incidence of HAND in HIV disease, but the exact mechanisms are not completely understood, especially of long term ART and viral suppression settings. We have reviewed work on the impact of addictive drugs on HAND in HIV immunopathogenesis.