title: Drugs of abuse and brain gene expression.
abstract: Addictive drugs like cocaine, ethanol, and morphine activate signal transduction pathways that regulate brain gene expression. Such regulation is modulated by the presence of certain transcription factor proteins present in a given neuron. This article summarizes the effects of several addictive drugs on transcriptional processes contributing to the development of a drug-dependent state. The characterization of drug-induced changes in gene expression shows promise for improving our understanding of drug-addiction phenomena and cellular modes of cocaine, ethanol, and morphine action.
authors.affiliation: Behavioral Neuroscience Program, Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, 14260, USA. gtorres@acsu.buffalo.edu
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Horowitz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000187:drug effects; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D009294:Narcotics; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000431:Ethanol; D009020:Morphine; D003042:Cocaine