Genes in drug abuse

FRANÇAIS :
Les travaux d'identification du génome humain ont permis de constater des modifications de l'expression génétique associées à des abus de drogues. 100 gènes sont actuellement connus, dont l'expression est altérée après administration de drogues. Le temps d'apparition des modifications génétiques est compatible avec le temps de développement d'une dépendance chez l'animal, mais la relation de cause à effet chez l'homme est difficile à établir. Un produit de transcription d'un gène régulé par l'amphétamine et la cocaïne (CART) est un mRNA qui code pour un peptide neurotransmetteur. L'injection de fragments de peptide CART dans certaines zones du cerveau entraîne des effets sur le comportement proches de ceux des psychostimulants
ENGLISH:
Because of the genome projects it will be possible to identify the changes in gene expression that are associated with drug abuse. The ultimate goal will be to determine the role and significance of the gene products. To date about 100 genes have been found with altered expression after administration of drugs. The development of new technologies such as microarrays will greatly facilitate finding such changes in expression. The rate at which levels of some gene products change is compatible with the time course of development of dependence in animals, but we must be able to establish a cause-effect relationship between genes and drug abuse, which this will be difficult. The product of the novel cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) gene is a useful example where a gene product has been associated with drug abuse. CART was identified as an mRNA that changed in response to psychostimulant drug administration and injection of CART peptides into the vental tegmental area produces psychostimulant-like effects. Definitive evidence, if obtainable, that specific genes are responsible for vulnerability to drug abuse could have dramatic effects on public health policy. (Author's abstract.)