title: Update of neurotrophic factors in neurobiology of addiction and future directions.
abstract: Drug addiction is a chronic brain disease and drugs of abuse cause long lasting neuroadaptations. Addiction is characterized by the loss of control over drug use despite harmful consequences, and high rates of relapse even after long periods of abstinence. Neurotrophic factors (NTFs) are well known for their actions on neuronal survival in the peripheral nervous system. Moreover, NTFs have been shown to be involved in synaptic plasticity in the brain. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) are two of the most studied NTFs and both of them have been reported to increase craving when administered into the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic system after drug self-administration. Here we review recent data on BDNF and GDNF functions in addiction-related behavior and discuss them in relation to previous findings. Finally, we give an insight into how new technologies could aid in further elucidating the role of these factors in drug addiction.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, P.O. Box 56, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Maryna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koskela
authors.affiliation: Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bäck
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Center, P.O. Box 56, 00014, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Vootele
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Võikar
authors.affiliation: Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Richie
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, P.O. Box 56, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Andrii
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domanskyi
authors.affiliation: Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Brandon K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Harvey
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biotechnology, P.O. Box 56, 00014, University of Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: mikko.airavaara@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Airavaara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors