Project description:To determine the differential miRNA levels in heroin addicts, we comparatively profiled plasma miRNA expression of heroin abusers and healthy controls using Agilent Human miRNA Array.
Project description:To determine the differential miRNA levels in methamphetamine addicts, we comparatively profiled plasma miRNA expression of methamphetamine abusers and healthy controls using Agilent Human miRNA Array.
Project description:To determine the differential miRNA levels in methamphetamine addicts, we comparatively profiled plasma exosome miRNA expression of methamphetamine abusers and healthy controls using miRNA sequencing
Project description:Noncoding RNAs, especially microRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the regulation of neuronal functions, such as learning, cognition and memory formation. However, the particular miRNAs involved in drug-induced behavioral plasticity are largely unknown. Here we report a novel regulator, miR-218, that inhibits heroin-induced behavioral plasticity. Network propagation-based method revealed several miRNAs that play key roles in drug-addiction, among which, miR-218 was decreased in nucleus accumbens (NAc) after chronic exposure to heroin. Lentiviral overexpression of miR-218 in NAc could inhibit heroin-induced reinforcement in both conditioning place preference (CPP) test and heroin self-administration (SA) experiment. Luciferase activity assay indicated miR-218 could regulate neuroplasticity related genes and directly target Mecp2 3’UTR. Consistently, Mecp2-/y mice exhibited reduced heroin seeking behavior in CPP test. These data reveal a functional role of miR-218 and its target, Mecp2, in the regulation of heroin-induced behavioral plasticity.
Project description:Several studies have investigated changes induced by drug exposure, but few reports have described changes that persist following relapse. In the present study, genome-wide analysis of gene expression was conducted in rats that expressed behavioral incubation of heroin-seeking and goal-directed behavior. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is important in mediating goal-directed behavior and also was the target of this analysis. Rats were trained to self-administer heroin (0.06 mg/0.2 ml infusion) during 3 hour daily sessions for 14 days. Following the self-administration period, rats were reintroduced to the self-administration chambers for a 90-minute extinction session. The extinction session occurred either 1 day or 14 days following the final self-administration session. Behavioral data demonstrated incubation (increased expression) of heroin-seeking and goal-directed behavior after the 14 day abstinent period. Whole genome analysis was performed and selected results were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). Microarrays identified 66 genes whose expression was identified as changed by at least 1.4 fold (p<0.02) following 14 days of abstinence and the 90-minute extinction session, and seven of the genes on which RT-qPCR was performed were confirmed (BDNF, Calb1, Dusp5, Dusp6, EGR1, NPY, RGS2). Ontological analysis indicates that several of the genes with changed expression in this study are important for behavior and learning. The importance of drug-seeking behavior and memory of previous sessions of drug-taking suggest that such genes may be important for relapse. The global gene expression analysis adds to the knowledge of heroin-induced changes and further highlights similarities between heroin and other drugs of abuse. Keywords: heroin self-administration cRNA from 6 rats that self-administered heroin was compared to cRNA from 5 rats that received yoked infusions of saline.
Project description:To further understanding of mature microRNA in plasma from healthy people, we have employed microRNA microarray as a discovery platform with the potential to identify the plasma microRNA levels of healthy people. Human peripheral blood was drawn from 4 healthy donors, and plasma was obtained by two-step centrifugation. Equal of total RNA from the plasma was detected by microRNA microarray including 866 human and 89 human viral miRNAs (Sanger miRBase, release 12.0). About 170 miRNAs could be detected by microarray in all 4 samples of plasma. Among them, 6 microRNAs (miR-451, miR-16, miR-133a, miR-1, miR-499 and miR-208a) were detected in the RNA from the same plasma by real-time PCR. Freshly peripheral bloods from 4 healthy donors were drawn into EDTA tubes, and were processed within 1 hour by two-step centrifugation to remove the blood cells and the cellular debris. Small RNA was prepared using the mirVana PARIS kit, and was quantified using a NanoDrop-1000 spectrophotometer. Equal of RNA from the plasma was detected by microRNA microarray to identify the microRNAs levels in plasma of healthy people.
Project description:To further understanding of mature microRNA in plasma from healthy people, we have employed microRNA microarray as a discovery platform with the potential to identify the plasma microRNA levels of healthy people. Human peripheral blood was drawn from 4 healthy donors, and plasma was obtained by two-step centrifugation. Equal of total RNA from the plasma was detected by microRNA microarray including 866 human and 89 human viral miRNAs (Sanger miRBase, release 12.0). About 170 miRNAs could be detected by microarray in all 4 samples of plasma. Among them, 6 microRNAs (miR-451, miR-16, miR-133a, miR-1, miR-499 and miR-208a) were detected in the RNA from the same plasma by real-time PCR.
Project description:To identify molecular effects of chronic drug treatment, heroin and methamphetamine treated animals were compared with saline treated animals at multiple time-points using microarray technology. Gene expression profile was assessed 14 h after the last dose of 1, 3, 6 or 12 days drug treatment and after 13, 15, 18 or 24 days of withdrawal. Animals were injected intraperitoneally with saline (SAL) (Polfa, Lublin, Poland), heroin (synthesized from morphine in Institute of Pharmacology PAS, Krakow, Poland) or D-methamphetamine (Sigma-Aldrich, Poznan, Poland) twice a day for consecutive 12 days in increasing doses. The Methamphetamine last dose (8 mg/kg) was four times greater than the first dose (2 mg/kg). It was also the case for heroin (40 and 10 mg/kg respectively). Mice were sacrificed by decapitation after 1, 3, 6 or 12 days of treatment or after 13, 15, 18 or 24 days of withdrawal.
Project description:Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is commonly used for controlling opioid dependence, preventing withdrawal symptoms, and improving the quality of life of heroin-dependent patients. A steady-state plasma concentration of methadone enantiomers, a measure of methadone metabolism, is an index of treatment response and efficacy of MMT. Although the methadone metabolism pathway has been partially revealed, no genome-wide pharmacogenomic study has been performed to identify genetic determinants and characterize genetic mechanisms for the plasma concentrations of methadone R- and S-enantiomers. This study was the first genome-wide pharmacogenomic study to identify genes associated with the plasma concentrations of methadone R- and S-enantiomers and their respective metabolites in a methadone maintenance cohort. After data quality control was ensured, a dataset of 344 heroin-dependent patients in the Han Chinese population of Taiwan who underwent MMT was analyzed. Genome-wide single-locus and haplotype-based association tests were performed to analyze four quantitative traits: the plasma concentrations of methadone R- and S-enantiomers and their respective metabolites. A significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs17180299 (raw p = 2.24 × 10-8), was identified, accounting for 9.541% of the variation in the plasma concentration of the methadone R-enantiomer. In addition, 17 haplotypes were identified on SPON1, GSG1L, and CYP450 genes associated with the plasma concentration of methadone S-enantiomer. These haplotypes accounted for approximately one-fourth of the variation of the overall S-methadone plasma concentration. The association between the S-methadone plasma concentration and CYP2B6, SPON1, and GSG1L were replicated in another independent study. A gene expression experiment revealed that CYP2B6, SPON1, and GSG1L can be activated concomitantly through a constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) activation pathway. In conclusion, this study revealed new genes associated with the plasma concentration of methadone, providing insight into the genetic foundation of methadone metabolism. The results can be applied to predict treatment responses and methadone-related deaths for individualized MMTs.