Methamphetamine administration targets multiple immune subsets and induces phenotypic alterations suggestive of immunosuppression

• Published in: PloS one 2012-12, Vol.7 (12), p.e49897-e49897
• Main Authors: Harms, Robert, Morsey, Brenda, Boyer, Craig W, Fox, Howard S, Sarvetnick, Nora
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abundance; Analysis; Animal models; Animals; Antigens; Biology; CD150 antigen; CD4 antigen; CD8 antigen; Cell activation; Computer simulation; Cytotoxicity; Dendritic cells; Disease Susceptibility - immunology; Flow Cytometry; Foxp3 protein; Health risks; Hepatitis; HIV; Homeostasis; Human immunodeficiency virus; Immune system; Immunocompromised Host; Immunology; Immunophenotyping; Immunosuppression; Immunotherapy; Infectious diseases; KLRG1 protein; Leukocytes; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - immunology; Lymphocytes T; Macrophages; Macrophages - drug effects; Macrophages - immunology; Male; Medicine; Methamphetamine; Methamphetamine - administration & dosage; Methamphetamine - pharmacology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Models, Animal; Monocytes; Monocytes - drug effects; Monocytes - immunology; Natural killer cells; Neurosciences; Pathogens; Studies; Substance abuse treatment; Surgery; Use statistics; Viral infections
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049897

Methamphetamine (Meth) is a widely abused stimulant and its users are at increased risk for multiple infectious diseases. To determine the impact of meth on the immune system, we utilized a murine model that simulates the process of meth consumption in a typical addict. Our phenotypic analysis of leukocytes from this dose escalation model revealed that meth affected key immune subsets. Meth administration led to a decrease in abundance of natural killer (NK) cells and the remaining NK cells possessed a phenotype suggesting reduced responsiveness. Dendritic cells (DCs) and Gr-1(high) monocytes/macrophages were also decreased in abundance while Gr-1(low) monocytes/macrophages appear to show signs of perturbation. CD4 and CD8 T cell subsets were affected by methamphetamine, both showing a reduction in antigen-experienced subsets. CD4 T cells also exhibited signs of activation, with increased expression of CD150 on CD226-expressing cells and an expansion of KLRG1(+), FoxP3(-) cells. These results exhibit that meth has the ability to disrupt immune homeostasis and impact key subsets of leukocytes which may leave users more vulnerable to pathogens.