The Roles of Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α, and an Inducer of These Factors in Drug Dependence

[摘要] References(38)Cited-By(17)There are few efficacious medications for drug dependence at present. Recent evidence has suggested that various cytokines are involved in the effects of abused drugs, suggesting that these factors play a role in drug dependence. In this article, the roles of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in drug dependence are discussed. GDNF inhibits the cocaine-induced upregulation of tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the ventral tegmental area and blocks behavioral responses to cocaine. TNF-α attenuates rewarding effects and locomotor sensitization induced by methamphetamine (METH) and morphine (MOR). Moreover, we mentioned the potential of Leu-Ile, which induces the expression of GDNF and TNF-α, as a novel therapeutic agent for drug dependence. Leu-Ile inhibits not only the development but also the maintenance of METH- or MOR-induced place preference and locomotor sensitization in mice. The inhibitory effect of Leu-Ile on METH- or MOR-induced place preference is not observed in GDNF heterozygous and TNF-α knockout mice. Leu-Ile inhibits METH- or MOR-induced place preference and sensitization by attenuating the METH- or MOR-induced increase in extracellular dopamine levels in the nucleus accumbens via the induction of GDNF and TNF-α expression. These findings suggest that Leu-Ile could be a novel therapeutic agent for drug dependence.

[学科分类] 药学

[关键词] glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor;tumor necrosis factor-α;methamphetamine;morphine;Leu-Ile