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Abdel Shaheed C, Hayes C, Maher CG, Ballantyne JC, Underwood M, McLachlan AJ, Martin JH, Narayan SW, Sidhom MA. Opioid analgesics for nociceptive cancer pain: A comprehensive review. CA Cancer J Clin 2024; 74:286-313. [PMID: 38108561 DOI: 10.3322/caac.21823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Pain is one of the most burdensome symptoms in people with cancer, and opioid analgesics are considered the mainstay of cancer pain management. For this review, the authors evaluated the efficacy and toxicities of opioid analgesics compared with placebo, other opioids, nonopioid analgesics, and nonpharmacologic treatments for background cancer pain (continuous and relatively constant pain present at rest), and breakthrough cancer pain (transient exacerbation of pain despite stable and adequately controlled background pain). They found a paucity of placebo-controlled trials for background cancer pain, although tapentadol or codeine may be more efficacious than placebo (moderate-certainty to low-certainty evidence). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs including aspirin, piroxicam, diclofenac, ketorolac, and the antidepressant medicine imipramine, may be at least as efficacious as opioids for moderate-to-severe background cancer pain. For breakthrough cancer pain, oral transmucosal, buccal, sublingual, or intranasal fentanyl preparations were identified as more efficacious than placebo but were more commonly associated with toxicities, including constipation and nausea. Despite being recommended worldwide for the treatment of cancer pain, morphine was generally not superior to other opioids, nor did it have a more favorable toxicity profile. The interpretation of study results, however, was complicated by the heterogeneity in the study populations evaluated. Given the limited quality and quantity of research, there is a need to reappraise the clinical utility of opioids in people with cancer pain, particularly those who are not at the end of life, and to further explore the effects of opioids on immune system function and quality of life in these individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Abdel Shaheed
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
| | - Christopher Hayes
- College of Health, Medicine, and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Christopher G Maher
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jane C Ballantyne
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Martin Underwood
- Warwick Clinical Trials Unit, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- University Hospitals of Coventry and Warwickshire, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew J McLachlan
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Pharmacy School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jennifer H Martin
- College of Health, Medicine, and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sujita W Narayan
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Musculoskeletal Health, University of Sydney and Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Pharmacy School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark A Sidhom
- Cancer Therapy Centre, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
- South Western Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Li Y, Duan J, Li Y, Zhang M, Wu J, Wang G, Li S, Hu Z, Qu Y, Li Y, Hu X, Guo F, Cao L, Lu J. Transcriptomic profiling across human serotonin neuron differentiation via the FEV reporter system. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:107. [PMID: 38637896 PMCID: PMC11027224 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03728-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The detailed transcriptomic profiles during human serotonin neuron (SN) differentiation remain elusive. The establishment of a reporter system based on SN terminal selector holds promise to produce highly-purified cells with an early serotonergic fate and help elucidate the molecular events during human SN development process. METHODS A fifth Ewing variant (FEV)-EGFP reporter system was established by CRISPR/Cas9 technology to indicate SN since postmitotic stage. FACS was performed to purify SN from the heterogeneous cell populations. RNA-sequencing analysis was performed for cells at four key stages of differentiation (pluripotent stem cells, serotonergic neural progenitors, purified postmitotic SN and purifed mature SN) to explore the transcriptomic dynamics during SN differentiation. RESULTS We found that human serotonergic fate specification may commence as early as day 21 of differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells. Furthermore, the transcriptional factors ZIC1, HOXA2 and MSX2 were identified as the hub genes responsible for orchestrating serotonergic fate determination. CONCLUSIONS For the first time, we exposed the developmental transcriptomic profiles of human SN via FEV reporter system, which will further our understanding for the development process of human SN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingqi Li
- Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinjin Duan
- Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - You Li
- Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Meihui Zhang
- Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaan Wu
- Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guanhao Wang
- Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuanqing Li
- Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhangsen Hu
- Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Qu
- Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunhe Li
- Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiran Hu
- Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Guo
- Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Lining Cao
- Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jianfeng Lu
- Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
- Suzhou Institute of Tongji University, Suzhou, China.
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Corbett BF, Urban K, Luz S, Yan J, Arner J, Bhatnagar S. Sex differences in electrophysiological properties and voltage-gated ion channel expression in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus following repeated stress. Biol Sex Differ 2022; 13:51. [PMID: 36163074 PMCID: PMC9513901 DOI: 10.1186/s13293-022-00460-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Habituation to repeated stress refers to a progressive reduction in the stress response following multiple exposures to the same, predictable stressor. We previously demonstrated that the posterior division of the paraventricular thalamic nucleus (pPVT) nucleus regulates habituation to 5 days of repeated restraint stress in male rats. Compared to males, female rats display impaired habituation to 5 days of restraint. To better understand how activity of pPVT neurons is differentially impacted in stressed males and females, we examined the electrophysiological properties of pPVT neurons under baseline conditions or following restraint. Methods Adult male and female rats were exposed to no stress (handling only), a single period of 30 min restraint or 5 daily exposures to 30 min restraint. 24 h later, pPVT tissue was prepared for recordings. Results We report here that spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic current (sEPSC) amplitude was increased in males, but not females, following restraint. Furthermore, resting membrane potential of pPVT neurons was more depolarized in males. This may be partially due to reduced potassium leakage in restrained males as input resistance was increased in male, but not female, rats 24 h following 1 or 5 days of 30-min restraint. Reduced potassium efflux during action potential firing also occurred in males following a single restraint as action potential half-width was increased following a single restraint. Restraint had limited effects on electrophysiological properties in females, although the mRNA for 10 voltage-gated ion channel subunits was altered in the pPVT of female rats. Conclusions The results suggest that restraint-induced changes in pPVT activation promote habituation in males. These findings are the first to describe a sexual dimorphism in stress-induced electrophysiological properties and voltage-gated ion channel expression in the pPVT. These results may explain, at least in part, why habituation to 5 days of restraint is disrupted in female rats. Male, but not female, pPVT neurons display increases in EPSC amplitude and decay time 24 h following one and five restraints. Input resistance is increased 24 h following one and five restraints in male, but not female, pPVT neurons. Afterhyperpolarization potential is greater in pPVT neurons of females compared to males, regardless of restraint. Restraint alters the expression of 10 voltage-gated ion channel transcripts in the pPVT of females, but only 3 in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian F Corbett
- Department of Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Kimberly Urban
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Sandra Luz
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jason Yan
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jay Arner
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Seema Bhatnagar
- Center for Stress Neurobiology, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA. .,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Kleschevnikov AM. Enhanced GIRK2 channel signaling in Down syndrome: A feasible role in the development of abnormal nascent neural circuits. Front Genet 2022; 13:1006068. [PMID: 36171878 PMCID: PMC9510977 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1006068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The most distinctive feature of Down syndrome (DS) is moderate to severe cognitive impairment. Genetic, molecular, and neuronal mechanisms of this complex DS phenotype are currently under intensive investigation. It is becoming increasingly clear that the abnormalities arise from a combination of initial changes caused by triplication of genes on human chromosome 21 (HSA21) and later compensatory adaptations affecting multiple brain systems. Consequently, relatively mild initial cognitive deficits become pronounced with age. This pattern of changes suggests that one approach to improving cognitive function in DS is to target the earliest critical changes, the prevention of which can change the ‘trajectory’ of the brain development and reduce the destructive effects of the secondary alterations. Here, we review the experimental data on the role of KCNJ6 in DS-specific brain abnormalities, focusing on a putative role of this gene in the development of abnormal neural circuits in the hippocampus of genetic mouse models of DS. It is suggested that the prevention of these early abnormalities with pharmacological or genetic means can ameliorate cognitive impairment in DS.
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Luo H, Marron Fernandez de Velasco E, Wickman K. Neuronal G protein-gated K + channels. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2022; 323:C439-C460. [PMID: 35704701 PMCID: PMC9362898 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00102.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK/Kir3) channels exert a critical inhibitory influence on neurons. Neuronal GIRK channels mediate the G protein-dependent, direct/postsynaptic inhibitory effect of many neurotransmitters including γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), serotonin, dopamine, adenosine, somatostatin, and enkephalin. In addition to their complex regulation by G proteins, neuronal GIRK channel activity is sensitive to PIP2, phosphorylation, regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins, intracellular Na+ and Ca2+, and cholesterol. The application of genetic and viral manipulations in rodent models, together with recent progress in the development of GIRK channel modulators, has increased our understanding of the physiological and behavioral impact of neuronal GIRK channels. Work in rodent models has also revealed that neuronal GIRK channel activity is modified, transiently or persistently, by various stimuli including exposure drugs of abuse, changes in neuronal activity patterns, and aversive experience. A growing body of preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that dysregulation of GIRK channel activity contributes to neurological diseases and disorders. The primary goals of this review are to highlight fundamental principles of neuronal GIRK channel biology, mechanisms of GIRK channel regulation and plasticity, the nascent landscape of GIRK channel pharmacology, and the potential relevance of GIRK channels to the pathophysiology and treatment of neurological diseases and disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haichang Luo
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | | | - Kevin Wickman
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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Xue X, Zong W, Glausier JR, Kim SM, Shelton MA, Phan BN, Srinivasan C, Pfenning AR, Tseng GC, Lewis DA, Seney ML, Logan RW. Molecular rhythm alterations in prefrontal cortex and nucleus accumbens associated with opioid use disorder. Transl Psychiatry 2022; 12:123. [PMID: 35347109 PMCID: PMC8960783 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-022-01894-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe and persistent disruptions to sleep and circadian rhythms are common in people with opioid use disorder (OUD). Preclinical evidence suggests altered molecular rhythms in the brain modulate opioid reward and relapse. However, whether molecular rhythms are disrupted in the brains of people with OUD remained an open question, critical to understanding the role of circadian rhythms in opioid addiction. Using subjects' times of death as a marker of time of day, we investigated transcriptional rhythms in the brains of subjects with OUD compared to unaffected comparison subjects. We discovered rhythmic transcripts in both the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc), key brain areas involved in OUD, that were largely distinct between OUD and unaffected subjects. Fewer rhythmic transcripts were identified in DLPFC of subjects with OUD compared to unaffected subjects, whereas in the NAc, nearly double the number of rhythmic transcripts was identified in subjects with OUD. In NAc of subjects with OUD, rhythmic transcripts peaked either in the evening or near sunrise, and were associated with an opioid, dopamine, and GABAergic neurotransmission. Associations with altered neurotransmission in NAc were further supported by co-expression network analysis which identified OUD-specific modules enriched for transcripts involved in dopamine, GABA, and glutamatergic synaptic functions. Additionally, rhythmic transcripts in DLPFC and NAc of subjects with OUD were enriched for genomic loci associated with sleep-related GWAS traits, including sleep duration and insomnia. Collectively, our findings connect transcriptional rhythm changes in opioidergic, dopaminergic, GABAergic signaling in the human brain to sleep-related traits in opioid addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangning Xue
- grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - Wei Zong
- grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - Jill R. Glausier
- grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 USA
| | - Sam-Moon Kim
- grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 USA ,grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Center for Adolescent Reward, Rhythms, and Sleep, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 USA
| | - Micah A. Shelton
- grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 USA
| | - BaDoi N. Phan
- grid.147455.60000 0001 2097 0344Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
| | - Chaitanya Srinivasan
- grid.147455.60000 0001 2097 0344Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
| | - Andreas R. Pfenning
- grid.147455.60000 0001 2097 0344Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA ,grid.147455.60000 0001 2097 0344Neuroscience Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
| | - George C. Tseng
- grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA
| | - David A. Lewis
- grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 USA
| | - Marianne L. Seney
- grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Translational Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 USA ,grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Center for Adolescent Reward, Rhythms, and Sleep, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 USA
| | - Ryan W. Logan
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118 USA ,grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Center for Systems Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118 USA
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A Common CDH13 Variant Is Associated with Low Agreeableness and Neural Responses to Working Memory Tasks in ADHD. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12091356. [PMID: 34573337 PMCID: PMC8471784 DOI: 10.3390/genes12091356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The cell—cell signaling gene CDH13 is associated with a wide spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism, and major depression. CDH13 regulates axonal outgrowth and synapse formation, substantiating its relevance for neurodevelopmental processes. Several studies support the influence of CDH13 on personality traits, behavior, and executive functions. However, evidence for functional effects of common gene variation in the CDH13 gene in humans is sparse. Therefore, we tested for association of a functional intronic CDH13 SNP rs2199430 with ADHD in a sample of 998 adult patients and 884 healthy controls. The Big Five personality traits were assessed by the NEO-PI-R questionnaire. Assuming that altered neural correlates of working memory and cognitive response inhibition show genotype-dependent alterations, task performance and electroencephalographic event-related potentials were measured by n-back and continuous performance (Go/NoGo) tasks. The rs2199430 genotype was not associated with adult ADHD on the categorical diagnosis level. However, rs2199430 was significantly associated with agreeableness, with minor G allele homozygotes scoring lower than A allele carriers. Whereas task performance was not affected by genotype, a significant heterosis effect limited to the ADHD group was identified for the n-back task. Heterozygotes (AG) exhibited significantly higher N200 amplitudes during both the 1-back and 2-back condition in the central electrode position Cz. Consequently, the common genetic variation of CDH13 is associated with personality traits and impacts neural processing during working memory tasks. Thus, CDH13 might contribute to symptomatic core dysfunctions of social and cognitive impairment in ADHD.
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Therapeutic potential of targeting G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels in the central nervous system. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 223:107808. [PMID: 33476640 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium channels (Kir3/GirK) are important for maintaining resting membrane potential, cell excitability and inhibitory neurotransmission. Coupled to numerous G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), they mediate the effects of many neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and hormones contributing to the general homeostasis and particular synaptic plasticity processes, learning, memory and pain signaling. A growing number of behavioral and genetic studies suggest a critical role for the appropriate functioning of the central nervous system, as well as their involvement in many neurologic and psychiatric conditions, such as neurodegenerative diseases, mood disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, epilepsy, alcoholism and drug addiction. Hence, GirK channels emerge as a very promising tool to be targeted in the current scenario where these conditions already are or will become a global public health problem. This review examines recent findings on the physiology, function, dysfunction, and pharmacology of GirK channels in the central nervous system and highlights the relevance of GirK channels as a worthful potential target to improve therapies for related diseases.
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