title: Mu opioid receptor: a gateway to drug addiction.
abstract: Mu opioid receptors mediate positive reinforcement following direct (morphine) or indirect (alcohol, cannabinoids, nicotine) activation, and our understanding of mu receptor function is central to the development of addiction therapies. Recent data obtained in native neurons confirm that mu receptor signaling and regulation are strongly agonist-dependent. Current functional mapping reveals morphine-activated neurons in the extended amygdala and early genomic approaches have identified novel mu receptor-associated proteins. A classification of about 30 genes either promoting or counteracting the addictive properties of morphine is proposed from the analysis of knockout mice data. The targeting of effectors or regulatory proteins, beyond the mu receptor itself, might provide valuable strategies to treat addictive disorders.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM/ULP, UMR7104, Parc d'Innovation, 1 rue Laurent Fries BP 10142, 67404 Illkirch Cedex, Strasbourg, France.
authors.forename: Candice
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Contet
authors.forename: Brigitte L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Kieffer
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Befort
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D009020:Morphine