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Brockway DF, Crowley NA. Emerging pharmacological targets for alcohol use disorder. Alcohol 2024:S0741-8329(24)00101-0. [PMID: 39069210 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2024.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) remains a challenging condition with limited effective treatment options; however new technology in drug delivery and advancements in pharmacology have paved the way for discovery of novel therapeutic targets. This review explores emerging pharmacological targets that offer new options for the management of AUD, focusing on the potential of somatostatin (SST), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), nociceptin (NOP), and neuropeptide S (NPS). These targets have been selected based on recent advancements in preclinical and clinical research, which suggest their significant roles in modulating alcohol consumption and related behaviors. SST dampens cortical circuits, and targeting both the SST neurons and the SST peptide itself presents promise for treating AUD and various related comorbidities. VIP neurons are modulated by alcohol and targeting the VIP system presents an unexplored avenue for addressing alcohol exposure at various stages of development. GLP-1 interacts with the dopaminergic reward system and reduces alcohol intake. Nociceptin modulates mesolimbic circuitry and agonism and antagonism of nociceptin receptor offers a complex but promising approach to reducing alcohol consumption. NPS stands out for its anxiolytic-like effects, particularly relevant for the anxiety associated with AUD. This review aims to synthesize the current understanding of these targets, highlighting their potential in developing more effective and personalized AUD therapies, and underscores the importance of continued research in identifying and validating novel targets for treatment of AUD and comorbid conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dakota F Brockway
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Nicole A Crowley
- Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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Méndez HG, Neira S, Flanigan ME, Haun HL, Boyt KM, Thiele TE, Kash TL. Dynamic regulation of CeA gene expression during acute and protracted abstinence from chronic binge drinking of male and female C57BL/6J mice. Alcohol 2024:S0741-8329(24)00091-0. [PMID: 38945280 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2024.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
While there are numerous brain regions that have been shown to play a role in this AUD in humans and animal models, the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) has emerged as a critically important locus mediating binge alcohol consumption. In this study, we sought to understand how relative gene expression of key signaling molecules in the CeA changes during different periods of abstinence following bouts of binge drinking. To test this, we performed drinking in the dark (DID) on two separate cohorts of C57BL/6J mice and collected CeA brain tissue at 1 day (acute) and 7 days (protracted) abstinence after DID. We used qRTPCR to evaluate relative gene expression changes of 25 distinct genes of interest related to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), neuropeptides, ion channel subunits, and enzymes that have been previously implicated in AUD. Our findings show that during acute abstinence CeA punches collected from female mice had upregulated relative mRNA expression of the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha 2 (Gabra2), and the peptidase, angiotensinase c (Prcp). CeA punches from male mice at the same time point in abstinence had upregulated relative mRNA encoding for neuropeptide-related molecules, neuropeptide Y (Npy) and somatostatin (Sst), as well as the neuropeptide Y receptor Y2 (Npyr2), but downregulated Glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 1 (Grin1). After protracted abstinence, CeA punches collected from female mice had increased mRNA expression of corticotropin releasing hormone (Crh) and Npy. CeA punches collected from male mice at the same timepoint had upregulated relative mRNA expression of Npy2r, Npy, and Sst. Our findings support that there are differences in how the CeA of male and female mice respond to binge-alcohol exposure, highlighting the need to understand the implications of such differences in the context of AUD and binge drinking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hernán G Méndez
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA; Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
| | - Sofia Neira
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
| | - Meghan E Flanigan
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
| | - Harold L Haun
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
| | - Kristen M Boyt
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
| | - Todd E Thiele
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA; Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
| | - Thomas L Kash
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA; Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA.
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Méndez HG, Neira S, Flanigan ME, Haun HL, Boyt KM, Thiele TE, Kash TL. Dynamic regulation of CeA gene expression during acute and protracted abstinence from chronic binge drinking of male and female C57BL/6J mice. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.02.578650. [PMID: 38352404 PMCID: PMC10862834 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.02.578650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Binge alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for developing Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and is associated with alcohol-related problems like accidental injury, acute alcohol poisoning, and black-outs. While there are numerous brain regions that have been shown to play a role in this AUD in humans and animal models, the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) has emerged as a critically important locus mediating binge alcohol consumption. In this study, we sought to understand how relative gene expression of key signaling molecules in the CeA changes during different periods of abstinence following bouts of binge drinking. To test this, we performed drinking in the dark (DID) on two separate cohorts of C57BL/6J mice and collected CeA brain tissue at one day (acute) and 7 days (protracted) abstinence after DID. We used qRTPCR to evaluate relative gene expression changes of 25 distinct genes of interest related to G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), neuropeptides, ion channel subunits, and enzymes that have been previously implicated in AUD. Our findings show that during acute abstinence CeA punches collected from female mice had upregulated relative mRNA expression of the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha 2 (Gabra2), and the peptidase, angiotensinase c (Prcp). CeA punches from male mice at the same time point in abstinence had upregulated relative mRNA encoding for neuropeptide-related molecules, neuropeptide Y (Npy) and somatostatin (Sst), as well as the neuropeptide Y receptor Y2 (Npyr2) but downregulated, Glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 1 (Grin1). After protracted abstinence CeA punches collected from female mice had increased mRNA expression of corticotropin releasing hormone (Crh) and Npy. While CeA punches collected from male mice at the same timepoint had upregulated relative mRNA expression of Npy2r and downregulated mRNA expression of Gabra2, Grin1 and opioid receptor kappa 1 (Oprk1). Our findings support that there are differences in how the CeA of male and female respond to binge-alcohol exposure, highlighting the need to understand the implications of such differences in the context of AUD and binge drinking behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hernán G Méndez
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
| | - Sofia Neira
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
| | - Meghan E Flanigan
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
| | - Harold L Haun
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
| | - Kristen M Boyt
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
| | - Todd E Thiele
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
- Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
| | - Thomas L Kash
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, USA
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