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Anversa RG, Barron ML, Walker LC, Lawrence AJ. Emerging GPCR targets for AUD: Insights from preclinical studies. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2024; 87:102896. [PMID: 38971113 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest group of membrane receptors in the central nervous system and one of the key proteins for signal transduction between cells. Currently, many drugs available on the market act via GPCRs and these receptors remain attractive targets for the treatment of brain disorders, including alcohol use disorder (AUD). Here, we describe the most recent literature, with a primary focus on the past 5 years, on GPCR targets with the potential for reducing behaviours associated with excessive alcohol intake. Specifically, we focus on preclinical evidence of compounds with attractive pharmacological profiles and potential for future clinical investigation for the treatment of AUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Goncalves Anversa
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne 3052, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3052, Australia
| | - Maiya L Barron
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne 3052, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Leigh C Walker
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne 3052, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3052, Australia
| | - Andrew J Lawrence
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Melbourne 3052, Australia; Florey Department of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3052, Australia.
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2
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Neel AI, Wang Y, Sun H, Liontis KE, McCormack MC, Mayer JC, Cervera Juanes RP, Davenport AT, Grant KA, Daunais JD, Chen R. Differential regulation of G protein-coupled receptor-associated proteins in the caudate and the putamen of cynomolgus macaques following chronic ethanol drinking. J Neurochem 2024. [PMID: 38783749 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.16134] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The dorsal striatum is composed of the caudate nucleus and the putamen in human and non-human primates. These two regions receive different cortical projections and are functionally distinct. The caudate is involved in the control of goal-directed behaviors, while the putamen is implicated in habit learning and formation. Previous reports indicate that ethanol differentially influences neurotransmission in these two regions. Because neurotransmitters primarily signal through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to modulate neuronal activity, the present study aimed to determine whether ethanol had a region-dependent impact on the expression of proteins that are involved in the trafficking and function of GPCRs, including G protein subunits and their effectors, protein kinases, and elements of the cytoskeleton. Western blotting was performed to examine protein levels in the caudate and the putamen of male cynomolgus macaques that self-administered ethanol for 1 year under free access conditions, along with control animals that self-administered an isocaloric sweetened solution under identical operant conditions. Among the 18 proteins studied, we found that the levels of one protein (PKCβ) were increased, and 13 proteins (Gαi1/3, Gαi2, Gαo, Gβ1γ, PKCα, PKCε, CaMKII, GSK3β, β-actin, cofilin, α-tubulin, and tubulin polymerization promoting protein) were reduced in the caudate of alcohol-drinking macaques. However, ethanol did not alter the expression of any proteins examined in the putamen. These observations underscore the unique vulnerability of the caudate nucleus to changes in protein expression induced by chronic ethanol exposure. Whether these alterations are associated with ethanol-induced dysregulation of GPCR function and neurotransmission warrants future investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna I Neel
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Yutong Wang
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Haiguo Sun
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Katherine E Liontis
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mary C McCormack
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jonathan C Mayer
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rita P Cervera Juanes
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - April T Davenport
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kathleen A Grant
- Division of Neuroscience Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - James D Daunais
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rong Chen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
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Darcq E, Kieffer BL. Neuroscience and addiction research: current advances and perspectives. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2024; 131:405-408. [PMID: 38492013 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-024-02763-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Darcq
- Strasbourg Translational Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), INSERM UMR-S 1329, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Brigitte L Kieffer
- Strasbourg Translational Neuroscience and Psychiatry, Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), INSERM UMR-S 1329, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
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Miller GM, Brant TS, Goodrich JA, Kugel JF. Short-term exposure to ethanol induces transcriptional changes in nontumorigenic breast cells. FEBS Open Bio 2023; 13:1941-1952. [PMID: 37572351 PMCID: PMC10549231 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13693] [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: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Many genetic and behavioral risk factors can contribute to the initiation and progression of breast cancer, one being alcohol consumption. Numerous epidemiological studies have established a positive correlation between alcohol consumption and breast cancer; however, the molecular basis for this link remains ill defined. Elucidating ethanol-induced changes to global transcriptional programming in breast cells is important to ultimately understand how alcohol and breast cancer are connected mechanistically. We investigated induced transcriptional changes in response to a short cellular exposure to moderate levels of alcohol. We treated the nontumorigenic breast cell line MCF10A and the tumorigenic breast cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF7, with ethanol for 6 h, and then captured the changes to ongoing transcription using 4-thiouridine metabolic labeling followed by deep sequencing. Only the MCF10A cell line exhibited statistically significant changes in newly transcribed RNA in response to ethanol treatment. Further experiments revealed that some ethanol-upregulated genes are sensitive to the dose of alcohol treatment, while others are not. Gene Ontology and biochemical pathway analyses revealed that ethanol-upregulated genes in MCF10A cells are enriched in biological functions that could contribute to cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tyler S. Brant
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of Colorado BoulderCOUSA
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Cruz B, Castañeda K, Aranda M, Hinojosa CA, Castro-Gutierrez R, Flores RJ, Spencer CT, Vozella V, Roberto M, Gadad BS, Roychowdhury S, O’Dell LE. Alcohol self-administration and nicotine withdrawal alter biomarkers of stress and inflammation and prefrontal cortex changes in Gβ subunits. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2023; 49:321-332. [PMID: 36206520 PMCID: PMC10348398 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2022.2121656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Background: Although alcohol and nicotine are often used together, the biological consequences of these substances are not well understood. Identifying shared targets will inform cessation pharmacotherapies and provide a deeper understanding of how co-use of alcohol and nicotine impacts health, including biomarkers of stress and inflammation.Objective: We examined the effects of nicotine exposure and withdrawal on alcohol self-administration (SA), stress and inflammatory biomarkers, and a G-protein coupled receptor subunit (Gβ) in brain areas associated with drug use.Methods: Male rats were trained to SA alcohol and then received a nicotine pump (n = 7-8 per group). We assessed alcohol intake for 12 days during nicotine exposure and then following pump removal to elicit withdrawal. After the behavioral studies, we assessed plasma leptin, corticosterone, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and Gβ protein expression in the amygdala, nucleus accumbens (NAc), and prefrontal cortex (PFC).Results: Nicotine exposure or withdrawal did not alter alcohol intake (p > .05). Alcohol and nicotine withdrawal elevated corticosterone levels (p = .015) and decreased Gβ levels in the PFC (p = .004). In the absence of nicotine, alcohol SA suppressed IL-1β levels (p = .039). Chronic exposure to nicotine or withdrawal during alcohol SA did not alter leptin levels or Gβ expression in the amygdala or NAc (p's > .05).Conclusions: The combination of alcohol SA and nicotine withdrawal produced a persistent increase in stress biomarkers and a suppression in Gβ expression in the PFC, providing an important first step toward understanding the common biological mechanisms of alcohol/nicotine misuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Cruz
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Karen Castañeda
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Michelle Aranda
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Cecilia A. Hinojosa
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | | | - Rodolfo J. Flores
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Charles T. Spencer
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Valentina Vozella
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Bharathi S. Gadad
- Department of Psychiatry, Paul L Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, USA
- Southwest Brain Bank, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Sukla Roychowdhury
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Laura E. O’Dell
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, USA
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McCarthy CG, Waigi EW, Singh G, Castaneda TR, Mell B, Chakraborty S, Wenceslau CF, Joe B. Physiologic, metabolic, and toxicologic profile of 1,3-butanediol. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2021; 379:245-252. [PMID: 34521698 DOI: 10.1124/jpet.121.000796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ketone bodies are essential energy substrates in the absence of exogenous nutrients, and more recently, they have been suggested to prevent disease and improve longevity. β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB) is the most abundant ketone body. The secondary alcohol, 1,3-butanediol (1,3-BD), is commonly administered to raise βHB bioavailability in vivo and in the absence of nutrient deprivation. However, the concentration of 1,3-BD that yields a systemic concentration of βHB similar to that observed after a 24 h fast has yet to be determined. To evaluate this knowledge gap, we administered 5%, 10%, or 20% 1,3-BD via the drinking water to adult, male Wistar-Kyoto rats for four weeks. In addition to systemic and excreted βHB concentration, physiologic, metabolic, and toxicologic parameters were measured. We report that only 20% 1,3-BD significantly elevates the systemic and urinary concentrations of βHB. Rats treated with 20% 1,3-BD had a rapid and sustained reduction in body mass. All concentrations of 1,3-BD decreased food consumption, but only the 20% concentration decreased fluid consumption. Urine volume, red blood cell count, and hematocrit suggested dehydration in the 10% and 20% 1,3-BD treated rats. Finally, 20% 1,3-BD treated rats presented with indicators of metabolic acidosis and sinusoidal dilation, but no evidence of fatty liver or hepatotoxicity. In summary, we report that 20% 1,3-BD, but not 5% or 10%, produces a systemic concentration of βHB similar to that observed after a 24 h fast. However, this concentration is associated with deleterious side effects such as body mass loss, dehydration, metabolic acidosis, and sinusoidal dilation. Significance Statement 1,3-Butanediol (1,3-BD) is often administered to stimulate the biosynthesis of the most abundant ketone body, β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB), and its purported salubrious effects. Here, we report that supra-pharmacological concentrations of 1,3-BD are necessary to yield a systemic concentration of βHB similar to that observed after a 24 h fast, and this is associated with undesirable side effects. On the other hand, low concentrations of 1,3-BD was better tolerated and may improve health independent of its conversion into βHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron G McCarthy
- Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, United States
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Bina Joe
- University of Toledo, United States
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Moffat JJ, Ron D. Astrocytes and alcohol: cortical astrocytes regulate alcohol consumption and intoxication. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:487-488. [PMID: 32561855 PMCID: PMC8026953 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-0737-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey J Moffat
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Dorit Ron
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Haass-Koffler CL, Schank JR. Translational Research in the Neurobiological Mechanisms of Alcohol and Substance Use Disorders. Neurotherapeutics 2020; 17:1-3. [PMID: 31965552 PMCID: PMC7007449 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-020-00833-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina L Haass-Koffler
- Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School, Providence, USA.
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
- Section on Clinical Psychoneuroendocrinology and Neuropsychopharmacology, National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Division of Intramural Clinical and Biological Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Jesse R Schank
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia
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