Morphine withdrawal produces ERK-dependent and ERK-independent epigenetic marks in neurons of the nucleus accumbens and lateral septum.
Epigenetic changes such as covalent modifications of histone proteins represent complex molecular signatures that provide a cellular memory of previously experienced stimuli without irreversible changes of the genetic code. In this study we show that new gene expression induced in vivo by morphine withdrawal occurs with concomitant epigenetic modifications in brain regions critically involved in drug-dependent behaviors. We found that naloxone-precipitated withdrawal, but not chronic morphine administration, caused a strong induction of phospho-histone H3 immunoreactivity in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) shell/core and in the lateral septum (LS), a change that was accompanied by augmented H3 acetylation (lys14) in neurons of the NAc shell. Morphine withdrawal induced the phosphorylation of the epigenetic factor methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) in Ser421 both in the LS and the NAc shell. These epigenetic changes were accompanied by the activation of members of the ERK pathway as well as increased expression of the immediate early genes (IEG) c-fos and activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated protein (Arc/Arg3.1). Using a pharmacological approach, we found that H3 phosphorylation and IEG expression were partially dependent on ERK activation, while MeCP2 phosphorylation was fully ERK-independent. These findings provide new important information on the role of the ERK pathway in the regulation of epigenetic marks and gene expression that may concur to regulate in vivo the cellular changes underlying the onset of the opioid withdrawal syndrome.
University of Turin, Department of Neuroscience, C.so M. D'Azeglio 52, 10126 Turin, Italy.
Alessandro
A
Ciccarelli
Arianna
A
Calza
Francesca
F
Santoru
Fabrizio
F
Grasso
Alessandra
A
Concas
Marco
M
Sassoè-Pognetto
Maurizio
M
Giustetto
D000107:Acetylation; D000607:Aminoacetonitrile / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051783:Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D012686:Septal Nuclei / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D006657:Histones; D051783:Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; C424127:SL 327; C092069:activity regulated cytoskeletal-associated protein; D009270:Naloxone; D000607:Aminoacetonitrile; D009020:Morphine