Epigenetic Regulatory Dynamics in Models of Methamphetamine-Use Disorder

Abstract

Methamphetamine (METH)-use disorder (MUD) is a very serious, potentially lethal, biopsychosocial disease. Exposure to METH causes long-term changes to brain regions involved in reward processing and motivation, leading vulnerable individuals to engage in pathological drug-seeking and drug-taking behavior that can remain a lifelong struggle. It is crucial to elucidate underlying mechanisms by which exposure to METH leads to molecular neuroadaptive changes at transcriptional and translational levels. Changes in gene expression are controlled by post-translational modifications via chromatin remodeling. This review article focuses on the brain-region specific combinatorial or distinct epigenetic modifications that lead to METH-induced changes in gene expression.

Methamphetamine induced regional-specific transcriptomic and epigenetic changes in the rat brain

“…2f, g). This finding provides evidence that complicated epigenetic remodeling events at different levels can be induced by METH exposure, as previous studies have reported [1, 3, 19, 24, 27, 33, 45].…”

“…Methamphetamine (METH) is a stimulant amphetamine drug that is extremely persistently addictive, with 61% of individuals treated for METH use disorder relapsing within one year [16-18]. Recently, developed animal models, especially rodent models, helped us better understand the molecular consequences of substance abuse [1, 23, 27]. Although previous studies illustrated that METH exposure could cause dramatic epigenetic changes in the NAc and frontal cortex [1, 3, 27, 33, 44], there is still a lack of a clear description of the molecular changes in different brain regions under METH exposure.…”

“…Recently, developed animal models, especially rodent models, helped us better understand the molecular consequences of substance abuse [1, 23, 27]. Although previous studies illustrated that METH exposure could cause dramatic epigenetic changes in the NAc and frontal cortex [1, 3, 27, 33, 44], there is still a lack of a clear description of the molecular changes in different brain regions under METH exposure.…”

“…Methamphetamine (METH) is a powerful and widely abused psychostimulant that has deleterious effects on the central nervous system and results in addiction, which is a major public concern globally [1][2][3][4]. In the United States, close to 2,000,000 people use METH, and deaths from METH overdose are rapidly rising [5,6].…”

Epigenetic Modification of PD-1/PD-L1-Mediated Cancer Immunotherapy against Melanoma

“…The majority of DNA sequencing information does not change throughout life; however, the manipulation of gene expression is possibly mediated by the chemical modification of DNA itself or by DNA-binding proteins such as histone [30][31][32][33][34][35] (Figure 1A). This epigenetic modification can alter the function of the skin, and it is possible for the skin to adapt to these environmental changes [16,36].…”