2015/05/29 by Arthur Godino, Subramaniam Jayanthi, Jean Lud Cadet · 2 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · Neuroscience · #Epigenetics and DNA Methylation #Pancreatic function and diabetes #Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/15592294.2015.1055441
openalex publication_date 2015/05/29 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Amphetamine and methamphetamine addiction is described by specific behavioral alterations, suggesting long-lasting changes in gene and protein expression within specific brain subregions involved in the reward circuitry. Given the persistence of the addiction phenotype at both behavioral and transcriptional levels, several studies have been conducted to elucidate the epigenetic landscape associated with persistent effects of drug use on the mammalian brain. This review discusses recent advances in our comprehension of epigenetic mechanisms underlying amphetamine- or methamphetamine-induced behavioral, transcriptional, and synaptic plasticity. Accumulating evidence demonstrated that drug exposure induces major epigenetic modifications-histone acetylation and methylation, DNA methylation-in a very complex manner. In rare instances, however, the regulation of a specific target gene can be correlated to both epigenetic alterations and behavioral abnormalities. Work is now needed to clarify and validate an epigenetic model of addiction to amphetamines. Investigations that include genome-wide approaches will accelerate the speed of discovery in the field of addiction.