Methadone induces CCR5 and promotes AIDS virus infection

• Published in: FEBS letters 2002-05, Vol.519 (1), p.173-177
• Main Authors: Suzuki, Shunji, Carlos, Maria P, Chuang, Linda F, Torres, José V, Doi, Roy H, Chuang, Ronald Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cell Line; Chemokine receptor CCR5; Enzyme Activation - drug effects; Gene Expression - drug effects; Giant Cells - drug effects; Giant Cells - pathology; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; LAAM, L-α-acetyl-methadol; Lymphocyte; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Lymphocytes - metabolism; Lymphocytes - virology; Methadone; Methadone - pharmacology; Mu opioid receptor; Naloxone - pharmacology; Narcotic Antagonists - pharmacology; Narcotics - pharmacology; Receptors, CCR5 - genetics; Receptors, CCR5 - metabolism; Receptors, Opioid, mu - genetics; Receptors, Opioid, mu - metabolism; Retroviridae Infections - metabolism; Retroviridae Infections - virology; Retroviruses, Simian - growth & development; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase - biosynthesis; RT-PCR, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction; SDS–PAGE, sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; Simian Immunodeficiency Virus - growth & development; SIV, simian form of HIV; SIVmac239; SRV, simian type D retrovirus; Virus Replication - drug effects
• ISSN: 0014-5793; 1873-3468
• DOI: 10.1016/S0014-5793(02)02746-1

Methadone, a regimen for the treatment of opioid dependency, was found to induce the expression of CCR5, a co-receptor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/simian form of HIV (SIV) entry, on human CEM x174 lymphocytes. Both CCR5 mRNA and protein were elevated in methadone-treated cells. A concomitant increase of mu opioid receptors was also observed. Upon methadone exposure, SIVmac239-infected CEM x174 cells released greater amounts of virus particles as revealed by both the number of syncytia formation and reverse transcriptase activities. Similar methadone effect was not observed on CEM x174 cells infected with other simian retroviruses that do not depend on CCR5 for cellular entry. These studies raise concerns considering methadone as an innocuous morphine substitute.