title: Cocaine triggers epigenetic alterations in the corticostriatal circuit.
abstract: Acute and repeated exposure to cocaine induces long-lasting alterations in neural networks that underlie compulsive drug seeking and taking. Cocaine exposure triggers complex adaptations in the brain that are mediated by dynamic patterns of gene expression that are translated into enduring changes. Recently, epigenetic modifications have been unveiled as critical mechanisms underlying addiction that contribute to drug-induced plasticity by regulating gene expression. These alterations are also now linked to the heritability of cocaine-induced phenotypes. This review focuses on how changes in the epigenome, such as altered DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNAs, regulate transcription of specific genes that contribute to cocaine addiction.
authors.affiliation: MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease Massachusetts General Hospital 114 16th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129-4404, USA. Electronic address: gsadrivakili@mgh.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Ghazaleh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sadri-Vakili
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D003042:Cocaine
keywords: Cocaine; DNA methylation; Epigenetics; Histone modifications; Micro RNA; Transgenerational inheritance