The Role of Glycinergic Transmission in the Pathogenesis of Alcohol Abuse
Journal Title: Advances in Hygiene and Experimental Medicine - Year 2018, Vol 72, Issue
Abstract
Alcoholism is a severe social and medical problem. Inadequate ethanol (EtOH) consumption results in acute and chronic conditions, which lead to many hospitalizations and generate considerable costs in healthcare. Alcoholism undoubtedly needs to be thoroughly described, especially in relation to the molecular mechanism of addiction. The current opinion about the pathogenesis of EtOH abuse is mainly based on the dopaminergic theory of addiction, connected with the impaired function of the dopaminergic transmission in the brain’s reward system. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that the potential role in alcohol activity is played also by glycinergic transmission, based inter alia on inhibitory glycine receptors (GlyRs) sensitive to this simplest amino acid. GlyRs are pentameric, ionotropic receptors from ligand-gated ion channel family and facilitate membrane permeability to chloride ions. The receptors are widely present in the human body and spread to the peripheral and central nervous system, where they are engaged in several processes, especially in the regulation of nociception, movement control and, possibly, also they are responsible for controlling the brain’s reward system involved in the pathogenesis of addiction. The last localization seems to be really important and consists of a new insight into the search for novel substances to prevent or cure the consequences of EtOH abuse. In this paper describes recently discovered and animal-tested ligands, which may be an interesting tool in the treatment of alcohol-related syndromes.<br/><br/>
Authors and Affiliations
Przemysław Zakowicz, Radosław Kujawski
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP343211
- DOI 10.5604/01.3001.0012.1736
- Views 151
- Downloads 0
3-Bromopyruvate as a potential pharmaceutical in the light of experimental data
3-Bromopyruvate (3-BrPA) is an halogenated analogue of pyruvic acid known for over four decades as an alkylating agent reacting with thiol groups of many proteins. It enters animal cells like a lactate: via monocarboxyli...
Sclerostin and chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to the development of mineral and skeletal disturbances. They increase the risk of fractures, cardiovascular complications and, in consequence, decrease patients’ lifespan. Wnt/β-cateni...
Cykliczny guanozynomonofosforan w regulacji czynności komórki
Wewnątrzkomórkowe stężenie cGMP zależy od aktywności cyklazy guanylanowej, odpowiedzialnej za jego syntezę oraz aktywności enzymów rozkładających cyklicznie nukleotydy - fosfodiesteraz (PDE). Cyklaza guanylanowa jest enz...
Prognostic value of HER3, PTEN and p-HER2 expression in patients with HER2positive breast cancer
HER2 overexpression is an unfavorable prognostic factor in patients with breast cancer, but it is also a target for the monoclonal antibody trastuzumab, which is effective in adjuvant and palliative settings. HER2 positi...
Lysosomal dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases
Dane literaturowe z ostatnich lat jednoznacznie wskazują na udział lizosomów w programowanej śmierci komórki. Dysfunkcje lizosomów upośledzają fuzję autofagosomów z lizosomami, co prowadzi do wakuolizacji cytoplazmy. Obe...