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Sigma Receptors and Substance Use Disorders
Valentina Sabino1, Callum Hicks2, Pietro Cottone3
1Laboratory of Addictive Disorders, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 E Concord Street, R-612, Boston, MA, 02118, USA. vsabino@bu.edu.
Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|March 19, 2017
Summary
Addiction is a chronic brain disease. Sigma Receptors are implicated in drug and alcohol addiction, suggesting they are a potential therapeutic target for substance use disorders and neurotoxicity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Addiction is recognized as a chronic brain disease with complex contributing factors.
- Abused substances induce neuroplastic changes leading to addiction-related disturbances.
- Current treatments for substance use disorders are limited, necessitating novel pharmacotherapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of Sigma Receptors in drug and alcohol addiction.
- To explore Sigma Receptors as a potential therapeutic target for substance use disorders.
- To examine the involvement of Sigma Receptors in drug-induced neurotoxicity.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of scientific knowledge on Sigma Receptors and substance abuse.
- Analysis of studies investigating the effects of abused drugs on Sigma Receptor systems.
- Synthesis of evidence linking Sigma Receptors to addictive and neurotoxic properties of drugs.
Main Results:
- Growing evidence implicates Sigma Receptors in the addictive properties of cocaine, methamphetamine, and alcohol.
- The Sigma Receptor system plays a role in the neurotoxic effects of abused substances.
- Neuroplastic changes induced by drugs of abuse are associated with Sigma Receptor activity.
Conclusions:
- The Sigma Receptor system is a key player in the neurobiology of addiction.
- Targeting Sigma Receptors offers a promising therapeutic strategy for substance use disorders.
- Modulating Sigma Receptor activity may mitigate drug-induced neurotoxicity.
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