Epigenetic mechanisms involved in methamphetamine addiction

Hang Wang; Xianghuan Dong; Maher Un Nisa Awan; Jie Bai

doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.984997

Epigenetic mechanisms involved in methamphetamine addiction

Front Pharmacol. 2022 Aug 26:13:984997. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.984997. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Hang Wang¹, Xianghuan Dong¹, Maher Un Nisa Awan¹, Jie Bai¹

Affiliation

¹ Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.

Abstract

Methamphetamine (METH) is an illicit psychostimulant that is widely abused. The molecular mechanism of METH addiction is complicated and still unknown. METH causes the release of the neurotransmitters including dopamine, glutamate, norepinephrine and serotonin, which activate various brain areas in the central nervous system. METH also induces synaptic plasticity and pathological memory enhancement. Epigenetics plays the important roles in regulating METH addiction. This review will briefly summarize the studies on epigenetics involved in METH addiction.

Keywords: addiction; epigenetics; methamphetamine; neurotransmitters; synaptic plasticity.

Publication types

Review