Abstract
Background Substance use disorders (SUDs) continue to be a public health challenge of significant importance. The immunomodulatory effects of substances of abuse have been extensively studied but there is a dearth of information on their effects on plasma interleukin-40 (IL-40) level, a biomarker of B cell activity, and its consequent effects on plasma total IgA level in patients with substance use disorders (SUD). Therefore, the plasma levels of IL-40 and total IgA in SUD patients were determined in this study.
Methods Ninety adults comprising 50 SUD patients and 40 controls were enrolled into this case-control study. The SUD patients were stratified into groups based on the number of substances they abuse and plasma levels of IL-40 and IgA were determined using ELISA.
Results Marijuana was the most abused substance (68.0%) and majority of the SUD patients (64.0%) were polydrug users. The median plasma IL-40 level was significantly lower in SUD patients compared with the controls. Similarly, the median plasma total IgA level was significantly lower in SUD patients compared with the controls. However, there were no significant differences in the plasma levels of IL-40 and IgA in SUD patients who abuse single substance, two substances, and three or more substances. The plasma IL-40 level had significant positive correlation with IgA in SUD patients.
Conclusion Substance use disorder is associated with impaired humoral immune function, but the dysregulation appears not to be influenced by poly-drug use. Studies evaluating the mechanisms underlying humoral immune impairment in patients with substance use disorder and its potential clinical implications are suggested.
Competing Interest Statement
The authors have declared no competing interest.
Funding Statement
The study was funded by the authors.
Author Declarations
I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.
Yes
The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:
Ethical approval (UI/EC/24/0455) was obtained from the University of Ibadan/University College Hospital (UI/UCH) Joint Ethics Committee before the commencement of the study.
I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.
Yes
I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).
Yes
I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable.
Yes
Data Availability
All data generated during this study are included in this published article
