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Hill SY, Hostyk J. A whole exome sequencing study to identify rare variants in multiplex families with alcohol use disorder. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1216493. [PMID: 37915799 PMCID: PMC10616827 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1216493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Alcohol use disorder (AUD) runs in families and is accompanied by genetic variation. Some families exhibit an extreme susceptibility in which multiple cases are found and often with an early onset of the disorder. Large scale genome-wide association studies have identified several genes with impressive statistical probabilities. Most of these genes are common variants. Our goal was to perform exome sequencing in families characterized by multiple cases (multiplex families) to determine if rare variants might be segregating with disease status. Methods A case-control approach was used to leverage the power of a large control sample of unrelated individuals (N = 8,983) with exome sequencing [Institute for Genomic Medicine (IGM)], for comparison with probands with AUD (N = 53) from families selected for AUD multiplex status. The probands were sequenced at IGM using similar protocols to those used for the archival controls. Specifically, the presence of a same-sex pair of adult siblings with AUD was the minimal criteria for inclusion. Using a gene-based collapsing analysis strategy, a search for qualifying variants within the sequence data was undertaken to identify ultra-rare non-synonymous variants. Results We searched 18,666 protein coding genes to identify an excess of rare deleterious genetic variation using whole exome sequence data in the 53 AUD individuals from a total of 282 family members. To complete a case/control analysis of unrelated individuals, probands were compared to unrelated controls. Case enrichment for 16 genes with significance at 10-4 and one at 10-5 are plausible candidates for follow-up studies. Six genes were ultra rare [minor allele frequency (MAF) of 0.0005]: CDSN, CHRNA9, IFT43, TLR6, SELENBP1, and GMPPB. Eight genes with MAF of 0.001: ZNF514, OXGR1, DIEXF, TMX4, MTBP, PON2, CRHBP, and ANKRD46 were identified along with three protein-truncating variants associated with loss-of-function: AGTRAP, ANKRD46, and PPA1. Using an ancestry filtered control group (N = 2,814), nine genes were found; three were also significant in the comparison to the larger control group including CHRNA9 previously implicated in alcohol and nicotine dependence. Conclusion This study implicates ultra-rare loss-of-function genes in AUD cases. Among the genes identified include those previously reported for nicotine and alcohol dependence (CHRNA9 and CRHBP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirley Y. Hill
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychology and Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Joseph Hostyk
- Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
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Mantsch JR. Corticotropin releasing factor and drug seeking in substance use disorders: Preclinical evidence and translational limitations. ADDICTION NEUROSCIENCE 2022; 4:100038. [PMID: 36531188 PMCID: PMC9757758 DOI: 10.1016/j.addicn.2022.100038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The neuropeptide, corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), has been an enigmatic target for the development of medications aimed at treating stress-related disorders. Despite a large body of evidence from preclinical studies in rodents demonstrating that CRF receptor antagonists prevent stressor-induced drug seeking, medications targeting the CRF-R1 have failed in clinical trials. Here, we provide an overview of the abundant findings from preclinical rodent studies suggesting that CRF signaling is involved in stressor-induced relapse. The scientific literature that has defined the receptors, mechanisms and neurocircuits through which CRF contributes to stressor-induced reinstatement of drug seeking following self-administration and conditioned place preference in rodents is reviewed. Evidence that CRF signaling is recruited with repeated drug use in a manner that heightens susceptibility to stressor-induced drug seeking in rodents is presented. Factors that may determine the influence of CRF signaling in substance use disorders, including developmental windows, biological sex, and genetics are examined. Finally, we discuss the translational failure of medications targeting CRF signaling as interventions for substance use disorders and other stress-related conditions. We conclude that new perspectives and research directions are needed to unravel the mysterious role of CRF in substance use disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Mantsch
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 W Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226, United States
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Zalachoras I, Astori S, Meijer M, Grosse J, Zanoletti O, de Suduiraut IG, Deussing JM, Sandi C. Opposite effects of stress on effortful motivation in high and low anxiety are mediated by CRHR1 in the VTA. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabj9019. [PMID: 35319997 PMCID: PMC8942367 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj9019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Individuals frequently differ in their behavioral and cognitive responses to stress. However, whether motivation is differently affected by acute stress in different individuals remains to be established. By exploiting natural variation in trait anxiety in outbred Wistar rats, we show that acute stress facilitates effort-related motivation in low anxious animals, while dampening effort in high anxious ones. This model allowed us to address the mechanisms underlying acute stress-induced differences in motivated behavior. We show that CRHR1 expression levels in dopamine neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA)-a neuronal type implicated in the regulation of motivation-depend on animals' anxiety, and these differences in CRHR1 expression levels explain the divergent effects of stress on both effortful behavior and the functioning of mesolimbic DA neurons. These findings highlight CRHR1 in VTA DA neurons-whose levels vary with individuals' anxiety-as a switching mechanism determining whether acute stress facilitates or dampens motivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis Zalachoras
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Corresponding author. (C.S.); (I.Z.); (S.A.)
| | - Simone Astori
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Corresponding author. (C.S.); (I.Z.); (S.A.)
| | - Mandy Meijer
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Jocelyn Grosse
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Olivia Zanoletti
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle Guillot de Suduiraut
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jan M. Deussing
- Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry/Molecular Neurogenetics, Munich, Germany
| | - Carmen Sandi
- Laboratory of Behavioral Genetics, Brain Mind Institute, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Corresponding author. (C.S.); (I.Z.); (S.A.)
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Effect of Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonism on Alcohol Self-Administration in Genetically-Selected Marchigian Sardinian Alcohol-Preferring and Non-Preferring Wistar Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084184. [PMID: 33920737 PMCID: PMC8073469 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Alcoholism is a chronically relapsing disorder characterized by high alcohol intake and a negative emotional state during abstinence, which contributes to excessive drinking and susceptibility to relapse. Stress, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and alterations in glucocorticoid receptor (GR) function have been linked to transition from recreational consumption to alcohol use disorder (AUD). Here, we investigated the effect of pharmacological antagonisms of GR on alcohol self-administration (SA) using male and female Wistar and Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats, a rodent line genetically selected for excessive alcohol drinking and highly sensitive to stress. Animals were trained to self-administer 10% (v/v) alcohol. Once a stable alcohol SA baseline was reached, we tested the effect of the GR antagonists mifepristone (0.0, 10, 30 and 60 mg/kg; i.p.) and CORT113176 (0.0, 10, 30 and 60 mg/kg) on alcohol SA. To evaluate whether the effects of the two compounds were specific for alcohol, the two drugs were tested on a similar saccharin SA regimen. Finally, basal blood corticosterone (CORT) levels before and after alcohol SA were determined. Systemic injection with mifepristone dose-dependently reduced alcohol SA in male and female Wistars but not in msPs. Administration of CORT113176 decreased alcohol SA in male and female Wistars as well as in female msPs but not in male msP rats. At the highest dose, mifepristone also reduced saccharin SA in male Wistars and female msPs, suggesting the occurrence of some nonspecific effects at 60 mg/kg of the drug. Similarly, the highest dose of CORT113176 (60 mg/kg) decreased saccharin intake in male Wistars. Analysis of CORT levels revealed that females of both rat lines had higher blood levels of CORT compared to males. Alcohol consumption reduced CORT in females but not in males. Overall, these findings indicate that selective blockade of GR selectively reduces alcohol SA, and genetically selected msP rats are less sensitive to this pharmacological manipulation compared to heterogeneous Wistars. Moreover, results suggest sex differences in response to GR antagonism and the ability of alcohol to regulate GR transmission.
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Vozella V, Cruz B, Natividad LA, Benvenuti F, Cannella N, Edwards S, Zorrilla EP, Ciccocioppo R, Roberto M. Glucocorticoid Receptor Antagonist Mifepristone Does Not Alter Innate Anxiety-Like Behavior in Genetically-Selected Marchigian Sardinian (msP) Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:3095. [PMID: 33803557 PMCID: PMC8003048 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats serve as a unique model of heightened alcohol preference and anxiety disorders. Their innate enhanced stress and poor stress-coping strategies are driven by a genetic polymorphism of the corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 (CRF1) in brain areas involved in glucocorticoid signaling. The activation of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) regulates the stress response, making GRs a candidate target to treat stress and anxiety. Here, we examined whether mifepristone, a GR antagonist known to reduce alcohol drinking in dependent rats, decreases innate symptoms of anxiety in msPs. Male and female msPs were compared to non-selected Wistar counterparts across three separate behavioral tests. We assessed anxiety-like behavior via the novelty-induced hypophagia (NIH) assay. Since sleep disturbances and hyperarousal are common features of stress-related disorders, we measured sleeping patterns using the comprehensive lab monitoring system (CLAMS) and stress sensitivity using acoustic startle measures. Rats received an acute administration of vehicle or mifepristone (60 mg/kg) 90 min prior to testing on NIH, acoustic startle response, and CLAMS. Our results revealed that both male and female msPs display greater anxiety-like behaviors as well as enhanced acoustic startle responses compared to Wistar counterparts. Male msPs also displayed reduced sleeping bout duration versus Wistars, and female msPs displayed greater acoustic startle responses versus male msPs. Importantly, the enhanced anxiety-like behavior and startle responses were not reduced by mifepristone. Together, these findings suggest that increased expression of stress-related behaviors in msPs are not solely mediated by acute activation of GRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Vozella
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (V.V.); (B.C.); (E.P.Z.)
| | - Bryan Cruz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (V.V.); (B.C.); (E.P.Z.)
| | - Luis A. Natividad
- College of Pharmacy, The University of Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA;
| | - Federica Benvenuti
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (F.B.); (N.C.); (R.C.)
| | - Nazzareno Cannella
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (F.B.); (N.C.); (R.C.)
| | - Scott Edwards
- Department of Physiology, Louisiana State University, Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA;
| | - Eric P. Zorrilla
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (V.V.); (B.C.); (E.P.Z.)
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy; (F.B.); (N.C.); (R.C.)
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (V.V.); (B.C.); (E.P.Z.)
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Stopponi S, Fotio Y, Cifani C, Li H, Haass-Koffler CL, Cannella N, Demopulos G, Gaitanaris G, Ciccocioppo R. Andrographis paniculata and Its Main Bioactive Ingredient Andrographolide Decrease Alcohol Drinking and Seeking in Rats Through Activation of Nuclear PPARγ Pathway. Alcohol Alcohol 2021; 56:240-249. [PMID: 33401299 DOI: 10.1093/alcalc/agaa136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Andrographis paniculata is an annual herbaceous plant which belongs to the Acanthaceae family. Extracts from this plant have shown hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties, at least in part, through activation of the nuclear receptor Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-gamma (PPAR γ). Recent evidence has demonstrated that activation of PPARγ reduces alcohol drinking and seeking in Marchigian Sardinian (msP) alcohol-preferring rats. METHODS The present study evaluated whether A. paniculata reduces alcohol drinking and relapse in msP rats by activating PPARγ. RESULTS Oral administration of an A. paniculata dried extract (0, 15, 150 mg/kg) lowered voluntary alcohol consumption in a dose-dependent manner and achieved ~65% reduction at the dose of 450 mg/kg. Water and food consumption were not affected by the treatment. Administration of Andrographolide (5 and 10 mg/kg), the main active component of A. paniculata, also reduced alcohol drinking. This effect was suppressed by the selective PPARγ antagonist GW9662. Subsequently, we showed that oral administration of A. paniculata (0, 150, 450 mg/kg) prevented yohimbine- but not cues-induced reinstatement of alcohol seeking. CONCLUSIONS Results point to A. paniculata-mediated PPARγactivation as a possible therapeutic strategy to treat alcohol use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Stopponi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Yannick Fotio
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of California, 807 Health Science Road, 92617 Irvine, USA
| | - Carlo Cifani
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Hongwu Li
- College of Chemical Engineering, Changchun University of Technology, 2055 Yan An Road, Chao Yang District, 130021 Changchun, China
| | - Carolina L Haass-Koffler
- Center Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department Psychiatry and Human Behavior Department Behavioral and Social Sciences Brow University 121 S. Main Street, Providence, RI 02931, USA
| | - Nazzareno Cannella
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
| | - Gregory Demopulos
- Center Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department Psychiatry and Human Behavior Department Behavioral and Social Sciences Brow University 121 S. Main Street, Providence, RI 02931, USA
| | - George Gaitanaris
- Center Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Department Psychiatry and Human Behavior Department Behavioral and Social Sciences Brow University 121 S. Main Street, Providence, RI 02931, USA.,Omeros Corporation, 201 Elliot Avenue West, Seattle, WA 98119, USA
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Via Madonna delle Carceri, 62032 Camerino, Italy
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Borruto AM, Stopponi S, Li H, Weiss F, Roberto M, Ciccocioppo R. Genetically selected alcohol-preferring msP rats to study alcohol use disorder: Anything lost in translation? Neuropharmacology 2021; 186:108446. [PMID: 33476639 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
For several decades, genetically selected alcohol-preferring rats have been successfully used to mimic and study alcohol use disorders (AUD). These rat lines have been instrumental in advancing our understanding of the neurobiology of alcoholism and enabling pharmacological studies to evaluate drug efficacy on alcohol drinking and relapse. Moreover, the results of these studies have identified genetic variables that are linked to AUD vulnerability. This is an up-to-date review that focuses on genetically selected Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring (msP) rats. To support the translational relevance of the findings that are obtained from msP rats and highlight important similarities to AUD patients, we also discuss the results of recent brain imaging studies. Finally, to demonstrate the importance of studying sex differences in animal models of AUD, we present original data that highlight behavioral differences in the response to alcohol in male and female rats. Female msP rats exhibited higher alcohol consumption compared with males. Furthermore, msP rats of both sexes exhibit higher anxiety- and depressive-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze and forced swim test, respectively, compared with unselected Wistar controls. Notably, voluntary alcohol drinking decreases foot-shock stress and depressive-like behavior in both sexes, whereas anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze is attenuated only in males. These findings suggest that male and female msP rats both drink high amounts of alcohol to self-medicate negative affective symptoms. For females, this behavior may be driven by an attempt to treat stress and depressive-like conditions. For males, generalized anxiety appears to be an important additional factor in the motivation to drink alcohol. This article is part of the special issue on 'Vulnerabilities to Substance Abuse.'
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Borruto
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Serena Stopponi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Hongwu Li
- College of Chemical Engineering, Changchun University of Technology, Changchun, China
| | - Friedbert Weiss
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Marisa Roberto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
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N-acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA) inhibition decreases the motivation for alcohol in Marchigian Sardinian alcohol-preferring rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2021; 238:249-258. [PMID: 33037452 PMCID: PMC7796956 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-020-05678-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE N-acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA) is an intracellular cysteine hydrolase that terminates the biological actions of oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), two endogenous lipid-derived agonists of the nuclear receptor, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α. OEA and PEA are important regulators of energy balance, pain, and inflammation, but recent evidence suggests that they might also contribute to the control of reward-related behaviors. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS In the present study, we investigated the effects of systemic and intracerebral NAAA inhibition in the two-bottle choice model of voluntary alcohol drinking and on operant alcohol self-administration. RESULTS Intraperitoneal injections of the systemically active NAAA inhibitor ARN19702 (3 and 10 mg/kg) lowered voluntary alcohol intake in a dose-dependent manner, achieving ≈ 47% reduction at the 10 mg/kg dose (p < 0.001). Water, food, or saccharin consumption was not affected by the inhibitor. Similarly, ARN19702 dose-dependently attenuated alcohol self-administration under both fixed ratio 1 (FR-1) and progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement. Furthermore, microinjection of ARN19702 (1, 3 and 10 μg/μl) or of two chemically different NAAA inhibitors, ARN077 and ARN726 (both at 3 and 10 μg/μl), into the midbrain ventral tegmental area produced dose-dependent decreases in alcohol self-administration under FR-1 schedule. Microinjection of ARN19702 into the nucleus accumbens had no such effect. CONCLUSION Collectively, the results point to NAAA as a possible molecular target for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.
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Potretzke S, Robins MT, Ryabinin AE. Differential sensitivity of alcohol drinking and partner preference to a CRFR1 antagonist in prairie voles and mice. Horm Behav 2020; 120:104676. [PMID: 31927017 PMCID: PMC7117978 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Available pharmacotherapies to treat alcohol use disorder (AUD) show limited efficacy. Preclinical studies in mice and rats suggested that antagonists of the corticotropin releasing factor receptor 1 (CRFR1) could be more efficacious for such treatment. However, clinical trials with CRFR1 antagonists were not successful. While a number of potential explanations for this translational failure have been suggested, we hypothesized that the lack of success in clinical trials could be in part due to different neuroanatomical organization of the CRFR1 system in mice and rats versus humans. The CRF system in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), a socially monogamous rodent species, also shows differences in organization from mice and rats. To test our hypothesis, we compared the efficacy of a potent CRFR1 antagonist, CP-376,395, to modulate alcohol drinking in male and female prairie voles versus male and female C57BL/6J mice using an almost identical 2-bottle choice drinking procedure. CP-376,375 (10 and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly decreased alcohol intake (but not alcohol preference) in mice, but not prairie voles. Furthermore, administration of this antagonist (20 mg/kg, i.p.) prior to the partner preference test (PPT) decreased partner preference (PP) in male prairie voles. These findings support our hypothesis that the greater efficacy of CRFR1 antagonists to suppress alcohol consumption in mice and rats versus other mammalian species could be due to the differences in organization of the CRFR1 system between species. They further indicate that activity of the CRFR1 system is necessary for the formation of pair-bonds, but not consumption of high doses of alcohol. Overall, we suggest that testing potential pharmacotherapies should not rely only on studies in mice and rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheena Potretzke
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Meridith T Robins
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Andrey E Ryabinin
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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Ciccocioppo R, Borruto AM, Domi A, Teshima K, Cannella N, Weiss F. NOP-Related Mechanisms in Substance Use Disorders. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2019; 254:187-212. [PMID: 30968214 PMCID: PMC6641545 DOI: 10.1007/164_2019_209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) is a 17 amino acid peptide that was deorphanized in 1995 and has been widely studied since. The role of the N/OFQ system in drug abuse has attracted researchers' attention since its initial discovery. The first two scientific papers describing the effect of intracranial injection of N/OFQ appeared 20 years ago and reported efficacy of the peptide in attenuating alcohol intake, whereas heroin self-administration was insensitive. Since then more than 100 scientific articles investigating the role of the N/OFQ and N/OFQ receptor (NOP) system in drug abuse have been published. The present article provides an historical overview of the advances in the field with focus on three major elements. First, the most robust data supportive of the efficacy of NOP agonists in treating drug abuse come from studies in the field of alcohol research, followed by psychostimulant and opioid research. In contrast, activation of NOP appears to facilitate nicotine consumption. Second, emerging data challenge the assumption that activation of NOP is the most appropriate strategy to attenuate consumption of substances of abuse. This assumption is based first on the observation that animals carrying an overexpression of NOP system components are more prone to consume substances of abuse, whereas NOP knockout rats are less motivated to self-administer heroin, alcohol, and cocaine. Third, administration of NOP antagonists also reduces alcohol consumption. In addition, NOP blockade reduces nicotine self-administration. Hypothetical mechanisms explaining this apparent paradox are discussed. Finally, we focus on the possibility that co-activation of NOP and mu opioid (MOP) receptors is an alternative strategy, readily testable in the clinic, to reduce the consumption of psychostimulants, opiates, and, possibly, alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Ciccocioppo
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy.
| | - Anna Maria Borruto
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Ana Domi
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Koji Teshima
- Research Unit/Neuroscience, Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Osaka, Japan
| | - Nazzareno Cannella
- School of Pharmacy, Pharmacology Unit, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Friedbert Weiss
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
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