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Kolli U, Roy S. The role of the gut microbiome and microbial metabolism in mediating opioid-induced changes in the epigenome. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1233194. [PMID: 37670983 PMCID: PMC10475585 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1233194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The current opioid pandemic is a major public health crisis in the United States, affecting millions of people and imposing significant health and socioeconomic burdens. Preclinical and clinical research over the past few decades has delineated certain molecular mechanisms and identified various genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors responsible for the pathophysiology and comorbidities associated with opioid use. Opioid use-induced epigenetic modifications have been identified as one of the important factors that mediate genetic changes in brain regions that control reward and drug-seeking behavior and are also implicated in the development of tolerance. Recently, it has been shown that opioid use results in microbial dysbiosis, leading to gut barrier disruption, which drives systemic inflammation, impacting the perception of pain, the development of analgesic tolerance, and behavioral outcomes. In this review, we highlight the potential role of microbiota and microbial metabolites in mediating the epigenetic modifications induced by opioid use.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sabita Roy
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
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Lee M, Joehanes R, McCartney DL, Kho M, Hüls A, Wyss AB, Liu C, Walker RM, R Kardia SL, Wingo TS, Burkholder A, Ma J, Campbell A, Wingo AP, Huan T, Sikdar S, Keshawarz A, Bennett DA, Smith JA, Evans KL, Levy D, London SJ. Opioid medication use and blood DNA methylation: epigenome-wide association meta-analysis. Epigenomics 2022; 14:1479-1492. [PMID: 36700736 PMCID: PMC9979153 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2022-0353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: To identify differential methylation related to prescribed opioid use. Methods: This study examined whether blood DNA methylation, measured using Illumina arrays, differs by recent opioid medication use in four population-based cohorts. We meta-analyzed results (282 users; 10,560 nonusers) using inverse-variance weighting. Results: Differential methylation (false discovery rate <0.05) was observed at six CpGs annotated to the following genes: KIAA0226, CPLX2, TDRP, RNF38, TTC23 and GPR179. Integrative epigenomic analyses linked implicated loci to regulatory elements in blood and/or brain. Additionally, 74 CpGs were differentially methylated in males or females. Methylation at significant CpGs correlated with gene expression in blood and/or brain. Conclusion: This study identified DNA methylation related to opioid medication use in general populations. The results could inform the development of blood methylation biomarkers of opioid use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikyeong Lee
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Roby Joehanes
- Department of Health and Human Services, Framingham Heart Study, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Framingham, MA 01702, USA
| | - Daniel L McCartney
- Centre for Genomic & Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Minjung Kho
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Anke Hüls
- Department of Epidemiology & Gangarosa, Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Annah B Wyss
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Chunyu Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Framingham Heart Study, Boston University, Framingham, MA 01702, USA
| | - Rosie M Walker
- Centre for Clinical Brain Science, Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh Bioquarter, Edinburgh, UK
- School of Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Sharon L R Kardia
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Thomas S Wingo
- Department of Neurology & Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Adam Burkholder
- Office of Environmental Science Cyberinfrastructure, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Jiantao Ma
- Department of Health and Human Services, Framingham Heart Study, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Framingham, MA 01702, USA
| | - Archie Campbell
- Centre for Genomic & Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Aliza P Wingo
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Tianxiao Huan
- Department of Health and Human Services, Framingham Heart Study, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Framingham, MA 01702, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Sinjini Sikdar
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
| | - Amena Keshawarz
- Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA 01702, USA
- Population Sciences Branch, Division of Intramural Research, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - David A Bennett
- Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Jennifer A Smith
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Kathryn L Evans
- Centre for Genomic & Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics & Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Daniel Levy
- Department of Health and Human Services, Framingham Heart Study, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Framingham, MA 01702, USA
| | - Stephanie J London
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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Blackwood CA, Cadet JL. Epigenetic and Genetic Factors Associated With Opioid Use Disorder: Are These Relevant to African American Populations. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:798362. [PMID: 35002733 PMCID: PMC8727544 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.798362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In the United States, the number of people suffering from opioid use disorder has skyrocketed in all populations. Nevertheless, observations of racial disparities amongst opioid overdose deaths have recently been described. Opioid use disorder is characterized by compulsive drug consumption followed by periods of withdrawal and recurrent relapses while patients are participating in treatment programs. Similar to other rewarding substances, exposure to opioid drugs is accompanied by epigenetic changes in the brain. In addition, genetic factors that are understudied in some racial groups may also impact the clinical manifestations of opioid use disorder. These studies are important because genetic factors and epigenetic alterations may also influence responses to pharmacological therapeutic approaches. Thus, this mini-review seeks to briefly summarize what is known about the genetic bases of opioid use disorder in African Americans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A. Blackwood
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, NIH/NIDA Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jean Lud Cadet
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch, NIH/NIDA Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Fragou D, Chao MR, Hu CW, Nikolaou K, Kovatsi L. Global DNA methylation levels in white blood cells of patients with chronic heroin use disorder. A prospective study. Toxicol Rep 2021; 8:337-342. [PMID: 33643851 PMCID: PMC7892979 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2021.02.006] [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: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioid abstinence for 21 days does not affect global DNA methylation levels in white blood cells. All participants in the study completed a 21-day “dry” detoxification program. Findings do not rule out the possibility of site-specific methylation changes.
Background Increasing scientific evidence shows the significant role of epigenetic mechanisms in drug use disorder, abstinence and relapse. Studies on human subjects are limited compared to those on animals, for various reasons such as poly-substance abuse, high drop-out rate and technical difficulties. Objectives Our goal was to evaluate whether a monitored abstinence period of 21 days could induce changes in global DNA methylation in chronic heroin users. Method In the current study, we present data on global DNA methylation on a set of 18 male patients with chronic heroin use disorder, carefully selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, who were hospitalized and closely monitored during a 21-day detoxification program, one of the few where no opioid agonist is administered. The participants were sampled twice, once upon enrolment to the program and once upon completion. Results According to our results, no difference in global DNA methylation was detected between samples collected upon enrolment and samples collected upon completion of the program. Conclusion The findings of this study do not rule out the possibility that the 21-day abstinence period was not long enough to observe changes in global DNA methylation, or that abstinence induced site-specific methylation changes (but not global changes), that certainly merit further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domniki Fragou
- Laboratory of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Department of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Mu-Rong Chao
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Chiung-Wen Hu
- Department of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan
| | - Kakia Nikolaou
- Addiction Department IANOS, General Hospital of Thessaloniki 'G. Papanikolaou'-Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Leda Kovatsi
- Laboratory of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Department of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
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Blackwood CA, Cadet JL. The molecular neurobiology and neuropathology of opioid use disorder. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2021; 2. [PMID: 35548327 PMCID: PMC9090195 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2021.100023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The number of people diagnosed with opioid use disorder has skyrocketed as a consequence of the opioid epidemic and the increased prescribing of opioid drugs for chronic pain relief. Opioid use disorder is characterized by loss of control of drug taking, continued drug use in the presence of adverse consequences, and repeated relapses to drug taking even after long periods of abstinence. Patients who suffer from opioid use disorder often present with cognitive deficits that are potentially secondary to structural brain abnormalities that vary according to the chemical composition of the abused opioid. This review details the neurobiological effects of oxycodone, morphine, heroin, methadone, and fentanyl on brain neurocircuitries by presenting the acute and chronic effects of these drugs on the human brain. In addition, we review results of neuroimaging in opioid use disorder patients and/or histological studies from brains of patients who had expired after acute intoxication following long-term use of these drugs. Moreover, we include relevant discussions of the neurobiological mechanisms involved in promoting abnormalities in the brains of opioid-exposed patients. Finally, we discuss how novel strategies could be used to provide pharmacological treatment against opioid use disorder. Brain abnormalities caused by opioid intoxication. Intoxication of opioids leads to defects in brain neurocircuitries. Insight into the molecular mechanisms associated with craving in heroin addicts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jean Lud Cadet
- Corresponding author.Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch NIH/NIDA Intramural Research Program 251 Bayview Boulevard Baltimore, MD, USA
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Abstract
This paper is the forty-first consecutive installment of the annual anthological review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system, summarizing articles published during 2018 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides and receptors as well as effects of opioid/opiate agonists and antagonists. The review is subdivided into the following specific topics: molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors (2), the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia in animals (3) and humans (4), opioid-sensitive and opioid-insensitive effects of nonopioid analgesics (5), opioid peptide and receptor involvement in tolerance and dependence (6), stress and social status (7), learning and memory (8), eating and drinking (9), drug abuse and alcohol (10), sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (11), mental illness and mood (12), seizures and neurologic disorders (13), electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (14), general activity and locomotion (15), gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (16), cardiovascular responses (17), respiration and thermoregulation (18), and immunological responses (19).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY, 11367, United States.
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