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 128
- Downloads 0
Biologia hepatoblastoma w świetle izotopowej spektrometrii mas: użyteczność unikatowej metody badawczej w ocenie materiałów onkologicznych
Patogeneza, profilaktyka i leczenie infekcji u chorych na przewlekłą białaczkę limfocytową
U chorych na przewlekłą białaczkę limfocytową (CLL) istnieje większone ryzyko infekcji. Patogeneza infekcji w tej grupie pacjentów jest złożona i wieloczynnikowa. Głównym czynnikiem sprzyjającym rozwojowi tych powikłań s...
Liver fibrosis mechanisms – the role of stellate cells, oxidative and nitrosative stress
Liver fibrosis is a chronic and complex pathological process, occuring in patients with chronic liver diseases. The most common cause of liver fibrosis is the alcoholic liver disease, viral hepatitis type B, C and D, as...
Czynniki genetyczne związane z podatnością na zakażenie HIV oraz z progresją zakażenia
Zakażenie HIV prowadzi do stopniowego upośledzenia układu odpornościowego człowieka, rozwoju AIDS i śmierci. Istotny wpływ na podatność i przebieg zakażenia mają czynniki genetyczne gospodarza. Ich działanie ocenia się,...
Bacteriophages to combat foodborne infections caused by food contamination by bacteria of the Campylobacter genus
It is estimated that each year more than 2 million people suffer from diarrheal diseases, resulting from the consumption of contaminated meat. Foodborne infections are most frequently caused by small Gram-negative rods C...