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Bergeria CL, Gipson CD, Smith KE, Stoops WW, Strickland JC. Opioid craving does not incubate over time in inpatient or outpatient treatment studies: Is the preclinical incubation of craving model lost in translation? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 160:105618. [PMID: 38492446 PMCID: PMC11046527 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105618] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Within addiction science, incubation of craving is an operational label used to describe time-dependent increases in drug seeking during periods of drug deprivation. The purpose of this systematic review was to describe the preclinical literature on incubation of craving and the clinical literature on craving measured over extended periods of abstinence to document this translational homology and factors impacting correspondence. Across the 44 preclinical studies that met inclusion criteria, 31 reported evidence of greater lever pressing, nose pokes, spout licks, or time spent in drug-paired compartments (i.e., drug seeking) relative to neutral compartments after longer periods of abstinence relative to shorter periods of abstinence, labelled as "incubation of craving." In contrast, no clinical studies (n = 20) identified an increase in opioid craving during longer abstinence periods. The lack of clinical evidence for increases in craving in clinical populations weakens the translational utility of operationalizing the time-dependent increase in drug-seeking behavior observed in preclinical models as models of incubation of "craving".
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia L Bergeria
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baltimore, MD, United States.
| | - Cassandra D Gipson
- University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Kirsten E Smith
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - William W Stoops
- University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Department of Behavioral Science, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Justin C Strickland
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baltimore, MD, United States
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2
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Zanda MT, Saikali L, Morris P, Daws SE. MicroRNA-mediated translational pathways are regulated in the orbitofrontal cortex and peripheral blood samples during acute abstinence from heroin self-administration. ADVANCES IN DRUG AND ALCOHOL RESEARCH 2023; 3:11668. [PMID: 38389822 PMCID: PMC10880771 DOI: 10.3389/adar.2023.11668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Opioid misuse in the United States contributes to >70% of annual overdose deaths. To develop additional therapeutics that may prevent opioid misuse, further studies on the neurobiological consequences of opioid exposure are needed. Here we sought to characterize molecular neuroadaptations involving microRNA (miRNA) pathways in the brain and blood of adult male rats that self-administered the opioid heroin. miRNAs are ∼18-24 nucleotide RNAs that regulate protein expression by preventing mRNA translation into proteins. Manipulation of miRNAs and their downstream pathways can critically regulate drug seeking behavior. We performed small-RNA sequencing of miRNAs and proteomics profiling on tissue from the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), a brain region associated with heroin seeking, following 2 days of forced abstinence from self-administration of 0.03 mg/kg/infusion heroin or sucrose. Heroin self-administration resulted in a robust shift of the OFC miRNA profile, regulating 77 miRNAs, while sucrose self-administration only regulated 9 miRNAs that did not overlap with the heroin-induced profile. Conversely, proteomics revealed dual regulation of seven proteins by both heroin and sucrose in the OFC. Pathway analysis determined that heroin-associated miRNA pathways are predicted to target genes associated with the term "prion disease," a term that was also enriched in the heroin-induced protein expression dataset. Lastly, we confirmed that a subset of heroin-induced miRNA expression changes in the OFC are regulated in peripheral serum and correlate with heroin infusions. These findings demonstrate that peripheral blood samples may have biomarker utility for assessment of drug-induced miRNA pathway alterations that occur in the brain following chronic drug exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Tresa Zanda
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neural Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Leila Saikali
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- College of Liberal Arts, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Paige Morris
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neural Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Stephanie E. Daws
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Neural Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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3
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Carrette LLG, Kimbrough A, Davoudian PA, Kwan AC, Collazo A, George O. Hyperconnectivity of Two Separate Long-Range Cholinergic Systems Contributes to the Reorganization of the Brain Functional Connectivity during Nicotine Withdrawal in Male Mice. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0019-23.2023. [PMID: 37295945 PMCID: PMC10306126 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0019-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic nicotine results in dependence with withdrawal symptoms on discontinuation of use, through desensitization of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and altered cholinergic neurotransmission. Nicotine withdrawal is associated with increased whole-brain functional connectivity and decreased network modularity; however, the role of cholinergic neurons in those changes is unknown. To identify the contribution of nicotinic receptors and cholinergic regions to changes in the functional network, we analyzed the contribution of the main cholinergic regions to brain-wide activation of the immediate early-gene Fos during withdrawal in male mice and correlated these changes with the expression of nicotinic receptor mRNA throughout the brain. We show that the main functional connectivity modules included the main long-range cholinergic regions, which were highly synchronized with the rest of the brain. However, despite this hyperconnectivity, they were organized into two anticorrelated networks that were separated into basal forebrain-projecting and brainstem-thalamic-projecting cholinergic regions, validating a long-standing hypothesis of the organization of the brain cholinergic systems. Moreover, baseline (without nicotine) expression of Chrna2, Chrna3, Chrna10, and Chrnd mRNA of each brain region correlated with withdrawal-induced changes in Fos expression. Finally, by mining the Allen Brain mRNA expression database, we were able to identify 1755 gene candidates and three pathways (Sox2-Oct4-Nanog, JAK-STAT, and MeCP2-GABA) that may contribute to nicotine withdrawal-induced Fos expression. These results identify the dual contribution of the basal forebrain and brainstem-thalamic cholinergic systems to whole-brain functional connectivity during withdrawal; and identify nicotinic receptors and novel cellular pathways that may be critical for the transition to nicotine dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adam Kimbrough
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, California 92093
| | - Pasha A Davoudian
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06511
| | - Alex C Kwan
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853
| | - Andres Collazo
- Beckman Institute, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
| | - Olivier George
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, California 92093
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4
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Jiang MJ, Li J, Luo CH, Zhu C, Chen ZJ, Bai W, Hu TY, Feng CH, Li C, Mo ZX. Rhynchophylline inhibits methamphetamine dependence via modulating the miR-181a-5p/GABRA1 axis. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 314:116635. [PMID: 37182675 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Miq. ex Havil. is a plant species that is routinely devoted in traditional Chinese medicine to treat central nervous system disorders. Rhynchophylline (Rhy), a predominant alkaloid isolated from Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Miq. ex Havil., has been demonstrated to reverse methamphetamine-induced (METH-induced) conditioned place preference (CPP) effects in mice, rats and zebrafish. The precise mechanism is still poorly understood, thus further research is necessary. AIM OF STUDY This study aimed to investigate the role of miRNAs in the inhibitory effect of Rhy on METH dependence. MATERIALS AND METHODS A rat CPP paradigm and a PC12 cell addiction model were established. Microarray assays were used to screen and identify the candidate miRNA. Behavioral assessment, real-time PCR, dual-luciferase reporter assay, western blotting, stereotaxic injection of antagomir/agomir and cell transfection experiments were performed to elucidate the effect of the candidate miRNA and intervention mechanism of Rhy on METH dependence. RESULTS Rhy successfully reversed METH-induced CPP effect and the upregulated miR-181a-5p expression in METH-dependent rat hippocampus and PC12 cells. Moreover, suppression of miR-181a-5p by antagomir 181a reversed METH-induced CPP effect. Meanwhile, overexpression of miR-181a-5p by agomir 181a in combination with low-dose METH (0.5 mg/kg) elicited a significant CPP effect, which was blocked by Rhy through inhibiting miR-181a-5p. Finally, the result demonstrated that miR-181a-5p exerted its regulatory role by targeting γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor α1 (GABRA1) both in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSION This finding reveals that Rhy inhibits METH dependence via modulating the miR-181a-5p/GABRA1 axis, which may be a promising target for treatment of METH dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Jin Jiang
- Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Jing Li
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Chao-Hua Luo
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Chen Zhu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Zhi-Jie Chen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Wei Bai
- Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China.
| | - Tian-Yu Hu
- Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China.
| | - Chuan-Hua Feng
- Jiangxi Provincial Institute of Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, China.
| | - Chan Li
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Zhi-Xian Mo
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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5
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Mazzeo F, Meccariello R, Guatteo E. Molecular and Epigenetic Aspects of Opioid Receptors in Drug Addiction and Pain Management in Sport. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097831. [PMID: 37175536 PMCID: PMC10178540 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioids are substances derived from opium (natural opioids). In its raw state, opium is a gummy latex extracted from Papaver somniferum. The use of opioids and their negative health consequences among people who use drugs have been studied. Today, opioids are still the most commonly used and effective analgesic treatments for severe pain, but their use and abuse causes detrimental side effects for health, including addiction, thus impacting the user's quality of life and causing overdose. The mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic circuitry represents the brain circuit mediating both natural rewards and the rewarding aspects of nearly all drugs of abuse, including opioids. Hence, understanding how opioids affect the function of dopaminergic circuitry may be useful for better knowledge of the process and to develop effective therapeutic strategies in addiction. The aim of this review was to summarize the main features of opioids and opioid receptors and focus on the molecular and upcoming epigenetic mechanisms leading to opioid addiction. Since synthetic opioids can be effective for pain management, their ability to induce addiction in athletes, with the risk of incurring doping, is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filomena Mazzeo
- Department of Economics, Law, Cybersecurity and Sports Sciences, University of Naples "Parthenope", 80133 Naples, Italy
- Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples "Parthenope", 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Rosaria Meccariello
- Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples "Parthenope", 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Ezia Guatteo
- Department of Movement Sciences and Wellbeing, University of Naples "Parthenope", 80133 Naples, Italy
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Via del Fosso di Fiorano 64, 00143 Rome, Italy
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6
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Zanda MT, Floris G, Daws SE. Orbitofrontal cortex microRNAs support long-lasting heroin seeking behavior in male rats. Transl Psychiatry 2023; 13:117. [PMID: 37031193 PMCID: PMC10082780 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-023-02423-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Recovery from opioid use disorder (OUD) and maintenance of abstinence from opioid use is hampered by perseverant drug cravings that may persist for months after cessation of drug use. Drug cravings can intensify during the abstinence period, a phenomenon referred to as the 'incubation of craving' that has been well-described in preclinical studies. We previously reported that animals that self-administered heroin at a dosage of 0.075 mg/kg/infusion (HH) paired with discrete drug cues displayed robust incubation of heroin craving behavior after 21 days (D) of forced abstinence, an effect that was not observed with a lower dosage (0.03 mg/kg/infusion; HL). Here, we sought to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying long-term heroin seeking behavior by profiling microRNA (miRNA) pathways in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), a brain region that modulates incubation of heroin seeking. miRNAs are small noncoding RNAs with long half-lives that have emerged as critical regulators of drug seeking behavior but their expression in the OFC has not been examined in any drug exposure paradigm. We employed next generation sequencing to detect OFC miRNAs differentially expressed after 21D of forced abstinence between HH and HL animals, and proteomics analysis to elucidate miRNA-dependent translational neuroadaptations. We identified 55 OFC miRNAs associated with incubation of heroin craving, including miR-485-5p, which was significantly downregulated following 21D forced abstinence in HH but not HL animals. We bidirectionally manipulated miR-485-5p in the OFC to demonstrate that miR-485-5p can regulate long-lasting heroin seeking behavior after extended forced abstinence. Proteomics analysis identified 45 proteins selectively regulated in the OFC of HH but not HL animals that underwent 21D forced abstinence, of which 7 were putative miR-485-5p target genes. Thus, the miR-485-5p pathway is dysregulated in animals with a phenotype of persistent heroin craving behavior and OFC miR-485-5p pathways may function to support long-lasting heroin seeking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Tresa Zanda
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neural Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gabriele Floris
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Neural Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie E Daws
- Center for Substance Abuse Research, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Neural Sciences, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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7
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Carrette LL, Kimbrough A, Davoudian PA, Kwan AC, Collazo A, George O. Hyperconnectivity of two separate long-range cholinergic systems contributes to the reorganization of the brain functional connectivity during nicotine withdrawal in male mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.29.534836. [PMID: 37034602 PMCID: PMC10081261 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.29.534836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/30/2023]
Abstract
Chronic nicotine results in dependence with withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuation of use, through desensitization of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and altered cholinergic neurotransmission. Nicotine withdrawal is associated with increased whole-brain functional connectivity and decreased network modularity, however, the role of cholinergic neurons in those changes is unknown. To identify the contribution of nicotinic receptors and cholinergic regions to changes in the functional network, we analyzed the contribution of the main cholinergic regions to brain-wide activation of the immediate early-gene FOS during withdrawal in male mice and correlated these changes with the expression of nicotinic receptor mRNA throughout the brain. We show that the main functional connectivity modules included the main long-range cholinergic regions, which were highly synchronized with the rest of the brain. However, despite this hyperconnectivity they were organized into two anticorrelated networks that were separated into basal forebrain projecting and brainstem-thalamic projecting cholinergic regions, validating a long-standing hypothesis of the organization of the brain cholinergic systems. Moreover, baseline (without nicotine) expression of Chrna2 , Chrna3 , Chrna10 , and Chrnd mRNA of each brain region correlated with withdrawal-induced changes in FOS expression. Finally, by mining the Allen Brain mRNA expression database, we were able to identify 1755 gene candidates and three pathways (Sox2-Oct4-Nanog, JAK-STAT, and MeCP2-GABA) that may contribute to nicotine withdrawal-induced FOS expression. These results identify the dual contribution of the basal forebrain and brainstem-thalamic cholinergic systems to whole-brain functional connectivity during withdrawal; and identify nicotinic receptors and novel cellular pathways that may be critical for the transition to nicotine dependence. Significance Statement Discontinuation of nicotine use in dependent users is associated with increased whole-brain activation and functional connectivity and leads to withdrawal symptoms. Here we investigated the contribution of the nicotinic cholinergic receptors and main cholinergic projecting brain areas in the whole-brain changes associated with withdrawal. This not only allowed us to visualize and confirm the previously described duality of the cholinergic brain system using this novel methodology, but also identify nicotinic receptors together with 1751 other genes that contribute, and could thus be targets for treatments against, nicotine withdrawal and dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adam Kimbrough
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92032, United States
| | - Pasha A. Davoudian
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06511, United States
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06511, United States
| | - Alex C. Kwan
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, United States
| | - Andres Collazo
- Beckman Institute, CalTech, Pasadena, CA, 91125, United States
| | - Olivier George
- Department of Psychiatry, UC San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92032, United States
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8
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Seyednejad SA, Sartor GC. Noncoding RNA therapeutics for substance use disorder. ADVANCES IN DRUG AND ALCOHOL RESEARCH 2022; 2:10807. [PMID: 36601439 PMCID: PMC9808746 DOI: 10.3389/adar.2022.10807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Although noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been shown to regulate maladaptive neuroadaptations that drive compulsive drug use, ncRNA-targeting therapeutics for substance use disorder (SUD) have yet to be clinically tested. Recent advances in RNA-based drugs have improved many therapeutic issues related to immune response, specificity, and delivery, leading to multiple successful clinical trials for other diseases. As the need for safe and effective treatments for SUD continues to grow, novel nucleic acid-based therapeutics represent an appealing approach to target ncRNA mechanisms in SUD. Here, we review ncRNA processes implicated in SUD, discuss recent therapeutic approaches for targeting ncRNAs, and highlight potential opportunities and challenges of ncRNA-targeting therapeutics for SUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Afshin Seyednejad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
- Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (CT IBACS), Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Gregory C. Sartor
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
- Connecticut Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (CT IBACS), Storrs, CT, United States
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9
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Zhao Y, Qin F, Han S, Li S, Zhao Y, Wang H, Tian J, Cen X. MicroRNAs in drug addiction: Current status and future perspectives. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 236:108215. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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10
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Jia S, Guo X, Chen Z, Li S, Liu XA. The roles of the circadian hormone melatonin in drug addiction. Pharmacol Res 2022; 183:106371. [PMID: 35907435 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
Given the devastating social and health consequences of drug addiction and the limitations of current treatments, a new strategy is needed. Circadian system disruptions are frequently associated with drug addiction. Correcting abnormal circadian rhythms and improving sleep quality may thus be beneficial in the treatment of patients with drug addiction. Melatonin, an essential circadian hormone that modulates the biological clock, has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-depressive, and neuroprotective effects via gut microbiota regulation and epigenetic modifications. It has attracted scientists' attention as a potential solution to drug abuse. This review summarized scientific evidence on the roles of melatonin in substance use disorders at the cellular, circuitry, and system levels, and discussed its potential applications as an intervention strategy for drug addiction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhui Jia
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xuantong Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zuxin Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Drug Addiction, Shenzhen Neher Neural Plasticity Laboratory, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Shupeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenomics, School of Chemical Biology and Biotechnology, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xin-An Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Behavior, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute (BCBDI), Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China; Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science-Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions, Shenzhen, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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11
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Anderson EM, Taniguchi M. Epigenetic Effects of Addictive Drugs in the Nucleus Accumbens. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:828055. [PMID: 35813068 PMCID: PMC9260254 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.828055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Substance use induces long-lasting behavioral changes and drug craving. Increasing evidence suggests that epigenetic gene regulation contributes to the development and expression of these long-lasting behavioral alterations. Here we systematically review extensive evidence from rodent models of drug-induced changes in epigenetic regulation and epigenetic regulator proteins. We focus on histone acetylation and histone methylation in a brain region important for drug-related behaviors: the nucleus accumbens. We also discuss how experimentally altering these epigenetic regulators via systemically administered compounds or nucleus accumbens-specific manipulations demonstrate the importance of these proteins in the behavioral effects of drugs and suggest potential therapeutic value to treat people with substance use disorder. Finally, we discuss limitations and future directions for the field of epigenetic studies in the behavioral effects of addictive drugs and suggest how to use these insights to develop efficacious treatments.
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12
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Gillespie A, Mayberry HL, Wimmer ME, Sillivan SE. microRNA expression levels in the nucleus accumbens correlate with morphine-taking but not morphine-seeking behaviour in male rats. Eur J Neurosci 2022; 55:1742-1755. [PMID: 35320877 PMCID: PMC9314918 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
A powerful motivation to seek opioids remains after drug cessation and intensifies during extended periods of abstinence. Unfortunately, biomarkers associated with continued drug seeking have not been described. Moreover, previous studies have focused on the effects of early abstinence with little exploration into the long-term drug-induced mechanisms that occur after extended abstinence. Here we demonstrated that 30 days (D) of forced abstinence results in a time-dependent increase in morphine seeking in a rat model of morphine self-administration (SA). We measured expression of known drug-responsive microRNAs (miRNAs) in the nucleus accumbens, an area critical for reward-related plasticity, during early or late abstinence in animals that underwent either a cue-induced relapse test or no relapse test. miRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that represent suitable biomarker candidates due to their long-lasting nature. mir-32-5p levels during early abstinence negatively correlated with active lever pressing in both cue-exposed and cue-naïve animals. mir-1298-5p positively correlated with drug SA history after a relapse test during late abstinence. When animals underwent acute abstinence with no relapse test, mir-1298-5p correlated with drug infusions and active lever pressing during SA. In late abstinence with no relapse test, mir-137-3p negatively correlated with drug infusions. Regulation of mir-32-5p target genes and significant correlation of target gene mRNA with mir-32-5p was observed after abstinence. These results indicate that lasting regulation of miRNA expression is associated with drug intake following morphine SA. In addition, we conclude that the miRNA profile undergoes regulation from early to late abstinence and miRNA expression may indicate past drug history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aria Gillespie
- Center for Substance Abuse ResearchTemple UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA,Department of Neural SciencesTemple UniversityPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - Hannah L. Mayberry
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, College of Liberal ArtsTemple UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Mathieu E. Wimmer
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, College of Liberal ArtsTemple UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Stephanie E. Sillivan
- Center for Substance Abuse ResearchTemple UniversityPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA,Department of Neural SciencesTemple UniversityPhiladelphiaPAUSA
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13
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Xie B, Zhang J, Ma C, Yu H, Ni Z, Cong B, Wen D. Roles of miR-592-3p and Its Target Gene, TMEFF1, in the Nucleus Accumbens During Incubation of Morphine Craving. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2022; 25:412-424. [PMID: 35020881 PMCID: PMC9154238 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyac004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prolonged forced abstinence from morphine can increase cue-induced cravings for the drug, contributing to a persistent vulnerability to relapse. Previous studies have identified the implications of aberrant microRNA (miRNA) regulation in the pathogenesis of morphine addiction, but the changes in miRNA expression during the incubation of morphine craving are still unknown. METHODS Nucleus accumbens (NAc)-specific altered miRNA transcriptomics was determined in a mouse model of cue-induced incubation of morphine craving following a next-generation sequencing method and verified by RT-qPCR. Bioinformatics analysis was performed to predict the target gene of selected miRNA, and the protein expression of the target gene was detected by western blot. A dual-luciferase assay was performed to confirm the binding sites, and gain- and loss-of-function strategy was applied to understand the mechanism of miRNA and its target gene. RESULTS The miR-592-3p observed to be downregulated in the NAc core was linked to the incubation of morphine craving, and a dual-luciferase assay was performed to confirm the binding sites of miR-592-3p in its target gene, tomoregulin-1 (TMEFF1). Also, gain- and loss-of-function analyses revealed that the inhibition of miR-592-3p expression in the NAc core negatively regulated TMEFF1 expression, thereby enhancing the incubation of morphine craving; however, the overexpression of miR-592-3p in the NAc core resulted in a decreased expression of TMEFF1, thereby reducing the incubation of morphine craving. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrated that miR-592-3p can improve the incubation of morphine craving by targeting TMEFF1, and thus, it holds a therapeutic potential to inhibit opioid craving.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Chunling Ma
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Research Unit of Digestive Tract Microecosystem Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Hailei Yu
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Research Unit of Digestive Tract Microecosystem Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Zhiyu Ni
- School of Basic Medical Science, Hebei University, Hebei Province, Baoding, PR China
| | - Bin Cong
- College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Research Unit of Digestive Tract Microecosystem Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Di Wen
- Correspondence: Di Wen, PhD, College of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China; Research Unit of Digestive Tract Microecosystem Pharmacology and Toxicology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China ()
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