Exposure to HIV-1 Tat protein potentiates the rewarding effects of morphine and reinstates extinguished conditioned place preference

s / Drug and Alcohol Dependence 156 (2015) e102–e182 e147 emotional responses to pain may lead to the misuse of opioids to avoid these states. The aim of this study was to examine differences in distress intolerance between chronic pain patients with and without prescription opioid abuse. Methods: Patients receiving opioid medication from a pain management clinic with chronic back or neck pain (N=47, 47% female) were recruited for this study. Participants completed selfreport and behavioral measures of distress intolerance, a battery of pain reactivity tests, and measures of opioid abuse. Results: Results from a logistic regression with presence of opioid abuse as the dependent variable found that distress intolerance was a strong predictor of the presence of opioid abuse (B=0.17, SEB =0.05, p< .01) controlling for age, gender, and severity of pain. For each one-point increase in distress intolerance (on a scale of 10–50), the odds of opioid abuse increased 18%. Participants with opioid abuse had a mean distress intolerance score almost twice that of those without (t=−4.15, p< .001). Conclusions: These results suggest that distress intolerance is substantially higher in chronic pain patients who abuse their medications relative to those who do not. Given that distress intolerance is modifiable with treatment, future studies aimed to examine this associationprospectivelymay informnovel therapeutic interventions in this population.Financial support: This study was supported by NIDA grants DA034102 and DA035297 (PI: Dr. McHugh). http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.400 Exposure to HIV-1 Tat protein potentiates the rewarding effects of morphine and reinstates extinguished conditioned place preference Jay P. McLaughlin2, Michelle L. Ganno2, Jason J. Paris2, Yong Zhang1, Mary J. Kreek1 1 The Laboratory of the Biology of the Addictive Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States 2 Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, Port St. Lucie, FL, United States Aims: While exposure to the HIV-1-accessory protein Tat is known to increase striatal dopamine levels, the functional consequences of Tat protein on the behavioral response to abused drugs are little known. We hypothesized that HIV-1 Tat expression in brain would modulate the rewarding effects of morphine. Methods: Using the GT-tg bigenic mouse model, where brainselective Tat expression is controlled by activation of a doxycycline (Dox) promotor, we tested the effects of Tat protein on morphineconditioned place preference (CPP). Microdialysis was performed with additionalmice expressing Tat protein and repeatedly administered heroin. Results: Although GT-tg bigenic mice expressing Tat demonstrated saline-conditioned place preferences similar to uninduced littermates and salineor Dox-treated C57BL/6J mice, Tat expression for 7 days significantly doubled morphine-CPP. The potentiation of CPP for morphine was dependent on the magnitude of exposure to Tat protein. Consistent with this observation, exposure to Tat protein increased the levels of dopamine released in response to heroin in GT-tg mice. Of interest, among GT-tg bigenic mice demonstrating extinction of morphine-CPP, subsequent expression of Tat protein for 7 days resulted in the reinstatement of the extinguished place preference response in previously uninduced mice. Conclusions:Overall, these data suggest that expression ofHIV1 Tat protein inmouse brain potentiated heroin-induced dopamine release and the rewarding effects of morphine in a doseand duration-dependent matter. Moreover, the Tat-induced reinstatement of an extinguished place preference for morphine suggests a biological means by which HIV infection may increase the vulnerability to substance abuse and relapse in abstinent subjects. Financial support: Funded by R01-MH085607 from NIMH and funds from the State of Florida, Executive Office of the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade, and Economic Development. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.401 A computerized system for entering and summarizing Timeline Followback information on multiple substances Shannon K. McWilliams, C. Thurstone, Paula D. Riggs, Susan K. Mikulich-Gilbertson University of Colo, Aurora, CO, United States Aims: Timeline Followback (TLFB) is a widely used method for collecting daily substance use information. Existing computerized systems for entering TLFB data: (1) collect only one drug, (2) collect limited quantity information, and (3) provide limited summary information. These limitations are especially problematic for assessing adolescents, who are commonly polysubstance users. Via our grant (R01 DA034604) we are developing a user-friendly, flexible, calendar-based system for collection of use on multiple substances that has utility in various clinical and research settings, provides useful summary information, and stores data in a format conducive for trajectory analyses. Methods: In 2013, we began tailoring and refining our TLFB system. Earlier versionswere used in school-based and clinical programs and revised to the current version. An outpatient clinic for adolescents (STEP) began using the current version in September 2014 and we are collecting feedback from those using the system, as well as TLFB data on STEP patients. Results: The current TLFB system includes pull down menus to avoid entry errors, tracks up to 8 drug categories, tracks daily use prior to treatment and for up to 6 months of treatment, provides equivalent quantity conversions for different routes of use of commonly used substances (cannabis, alcohol, tobacco), and provides monthly substance-specific summaries of use. To date, data are being collected on 14 patients at STEP who have completed 6 weeks of treatment on average and use 2 drug categories on average (range 1–5), including cannabis, alcohol, cocaine, heroin, cigarettes, and sedatives. By May 2015, we anticipate that 20–30 patients will have completed treatment and provided their data, including summary information on use of each substance. Conclusions: This TLFB system is unique in tracking daily use of multiple substances. It will potentially facilitate the collection of real-world, clinical data that can be used for research purposes. We seek input fromothers thatwill be incorporated before the final system is made publicly available. Financial support: DA034604. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.07.402