Genetic signatures of heroin addiction

Transcriptomics in the nucleus accumbens shell reveal sex- and reinforcer-specific signatures associated with morphine and sucrose craving

Incubation of craving is a well-documented phenomenon referring to the intensification of drug craving over extended abstinence. The neural adaptations that occur during forced abstinence following chronic drug taking have been a topic of intense study. However, little is known about the transcriptomic changes occurring throughout this window of time. To define gene expression changes associated with morphine consumption and extended abstinence, male and female rats underwent 10 days of morphine self-administration. Separate drug-naive rats self-administered sucrose in order to compare opioid-induced changes from those associated with natural, non-drug rewards. After one or 30 days of forced abstinence, rats were tested for craving, or nucleus accumbens shell tissue was dissected for RNA sequencing. Morphine consumption was predictive of drug seeking after extended (30 days) but not brief (1 day) abstinence in both sexes. Extended abstinence was also associated with robust sex- and reinforcer-specific changes in gene expression, suggesting sex differences underlying incubation of morphine and sucrose seeking respectively. Importantly, these changes in gene expression occurred without re-exposure to drug-paired cues, indicating that chronic morphine causes long-lasting changes in gene expression that prime the system for increased craving. These findings lay the groundwork for identifying specific therapeutic targets for curbing opioid craving without impacting the natural reward system in males and females.

CEBPG promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression by enhancing PI3K-AKT signaling

CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (CEBPs, including CEBPA, CEBPB, CEBPD, CEBPE, CEBPG, and CEBPZ) play critical roles in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. However, the molecular characteristics and biological significance of CEBPs in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) have rarely been reported. Here, we show that most of the CEBPs are upregulated and accompanied with copy number amplifications in ESCC. Of note, high CEBPG expression is regulated by the ESCC specific transcription factor TP63 and serves as a prognostic factor for poor survival in ESCC patients. Functionally, CEBPG significantly promotes the proliferation and migration of ESCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, CEBPG activates the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway through directly binding to distal enhancers and/or promoters of genes involved in this pathway, including genes of CCND1, MYC, CDK2, etc. These findings provide new insights into CEBPs dysregulation in ESCC and elucidate a crucial role for CEBPG in the progression of ESCC, highlighting its potential therapeutic value for ESCC treatment.

A Mouse Mutation That Dysregulates Neighboring Galnt17 and Auts2 Genes Is Associated with Phenotypes Related to the Human AUTS2 Syndrome

AUTS2 was originally discovered as the gene disrupted by a translocation in human twins with Autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, and epilepsy. Since that initial finding, AUTS2-linked mutations and variants have been associated with a very broad array of neuropsychiatric disorders, sugg esting that AUTS2 is required for fundamental steps of neurodevelopment. However, genotype-phenotype correlations in this region are complicated, because most mutations could also involve neighboring genes. Of particular interest is the nearest downstream neighbor of AUTS2, GALNT17, which encodes a brain-expressed N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase of unknown brain function. Here we describe a mouse (Mus musculus) mutation, T(5G2;8A1)GSO (abbreviated 16Gso), a reciprocal translocation that breaks between Auts2 and Galnt17 and dysregulates both genes. Despite this complex regulatory effect, 16Gso homozygotes model certain human AUTS2-linked phenotypes very well. In addition to abnormalities in growth, craniofacial structure, learning and memory, and behavior, 16Gso homozygotes display distinct pathologies of the cerebellum and hippocampus that are similar to those associated with autism and other types of AUTS2-linked neurological disease. Analyzing mutant cerebellar and hippocampal transcriptomes to explain this pathology, we identified disturbances in pathways related to neuron and synapse maturation, neurotransmitter signaling, and cellular stress, suggesting possible cellular mechanisms. These pathways, coupled with the translocation's selective effects on Auts2 isoforms and coordinated dysregulation of Galnt17, suggest novel hypotheses regarding the etiology of the human "AUTS2 syndrome" and the wide array of neurodevelopmental disorders linked to variance in this genomic region.

After NAS

Mothers have used opioids for thousands of years but neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) or rather, survivors of NAS, is a modern phenomenon. Unrecognized and/or untreated opioid withdrawal was almost always fatal but with greater awareness and standardization of treatment, NAS is now an uncommon direct cause of infant death. However, opioids are now increasingly accessible and potent and the outcomes of children after the neonatal period are of great concern, especially when coupled with multiple other social and health risks. Complex individual, environmental and genetic factors need to be considered when assessing outcomes or future research for babies with NAS. Any intervention or research efforts must address these multifactorial complexities. This review will discuss pertinent post neonatal outcomes, including mortality, physical and mental health and social functioning of children with a history of NAS.

Construction and Analysis of Protein-Protein Interaction Network of Heroin Use Disorder

Heroin use disorder (HUD) is a complex disease resulting from interactions among genetic and other factors (e.g., environmental factors). The mechanism of HUD development remains unknown. Newly developed network medicine tools provide a platform for exploring complex diseases at the system level. This study proposes that protein–protein interactions (PPIs), particularly those among proteins encoded by casual or susceptibility genes, are extremely crucial for HUD development. The giant component of our constructed PPI network comprised 111 nodes with 553 edges, including 16 proteins with large degree (k) or high betweenness centrality (BC), which were further identified as the backbone of the network. JUN with the largest degree was suggested to be central to the PPI network associated with HUD. Moreover, PCK1 with the highest BC and MAPK14 with the secondary largest degree and 9^th highest BC might be involved in the development HUD and other substance diseases.

Adult consequences of prenatal drug exposure

Maternal drug use is not new but over the last few decades, the number of mothers using drugs of addiction has escalated to epidemic levels. These drugs are both legal (e.g. prescription medication) and illegal (e.g. heroin) and all will cross the placental barrier into the developing infant. The most immediate and obvious consequence of intra-uterine drug exposure is newborn withdrawal or the Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) which is now, with prompt recognition and treatment, an uncommon cause of neonatal death. Thousands (if not millions) of adults most likely would have had a history of passive drug exposure during gestation and the outcomes of these people are unknown. Most are physically healthy and do not need extra medical attention but the effects of prenatal drug exposure may be subtle and extensive. Drug-use disorders are accompanied by a myriad of other adverse problems, including poverty, mental and physical health problems and inadequate parenting ability that may compound the negative effects of drugs. Emerging data suggest that vulnerability to health and neurocognitive issues are pervasive and long-lasting as are lifestyle issues. This review will address current evidence in this area and highlight the knowledge gaps that must be addressed in order to optimise the outcomes for this vulnerable and marginalised but rapidly expanding population of adults.