title: Kappa opioid receptor signaling in the brain: Circuitry and implications for treatment.
abstract: Kappa opioid receptors (KORs) in the central nervous system have been known to be important regulators of a variety of psychiatry illnesses, including anxiety and addiction, but their precise involvement in these disorders is complex and has yet to be fully elucidated. Here, we briefly review the pharmacology of KORs in the brain, including KOR's involvement in anxiety, depression, and drug addiction. We also review the known neuronal circuitry impacted by KOR signaling, and interactions with corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), another key peptide in anxiety-related illnesses, as well as the role of glucocorticoids. We suggest that KORs are a promising therapeutic target for a host of neuropsychiatric conditions.
authors.affiliation: Neurobiology Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Crowley
authors.affiliation: Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. Electronic address: tkash@email.unc.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Kash
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa / Q000378:metabolism*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017473:Receptors, Opioid, kappa
keywords: Addiction; Anxiety; Circuitry; Dynorphin; KOR; Stress