Chronic opioid use is associated with higher flu vaccine induced Ab response in HIV+ and HIV− individuals.

Abstract Opioid dependence is frequent in people with HIV (PWH), but impact of opioids on immune system PWH unknown. This study tested the hypothesis that chronic opioid use exacerbates known impairment flu vaccine responses PWH. Chronic users were compared to non-opioid HIV+ and HIV− groups termed HIV+OP+ (n=28), HIV-OP+ (n=55), HIV+OP− (n=53), HIV-OP− (controls, n=58). individuals ART plasma virus load <200 copies/mL. Flu antibody titers determined at pre- (T0) 4 weeks post (T2) seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccinations (2020–2022) by hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) along a cytokine score T0. Vaccine response (VR) was defined as 4-fold change (FC) titer from T0 T2. In Kruskal Wallis analysis, all had increases HAI T2 (p<0.01 p<0.0001) for antigens (H1N1, H3N2, B Victoria) whole vaccine. status associated decreased OP+ higher than HIV+OP−, both T2/T0 FC one or more (p<0.05 p<0.001). regression analysis controlling demographics, increased H1N1 Yamagata antigens. random forest model, predicted probability VR lower status. Cytokine highest HIV+OP+. Results quantitative Ab refute our would be impaired who chronically opioids. Qualitative assessments mechanism intersection cell function are ongoing understand if overcomes humoral deficits