Abstract
There are an estimated 11.7 million methamphetamine (MA) abusers in the United States and epidemics of MA addiction are occurring worldwide. In our human laboratory and outpatient clinical trials we use innovative methods to quantify the severity of MA addiction and test biomarkers that may predict response to therapy or risk of relapse. One potential biomarker of addiction is the quantity of abused drug intake. Qualitative urinalysis is used in clinical trials and during treatment but provides only a binary outcome measure of abuse. Using non-pharmacologic doses of deuterium labeled l-MA we have developed a continuous quantitative measure to estimate the bioavailable amount of MA addicts ingest. Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor is a neurotrophin that encourages growth and differentiation of new neurons and synapses. Low BDNF levels are seen in many addictive disorders and BDNF is elevated in recovering MA addicts, suggesting BDNF may be a marker of MA addiction. We are investigating the effects of controlled doses of MA on BDNF levels and gene regulation and measuring BDNF in our clinical trials. We believe both patients and clinical researches will benefit from the addition of new, objective and quantifiable outcome measures that reflect disease severity and recovery from addiction.
Keywords: Biomarker, methamphetamine, addiction, Drug Metabolism, Pathogenic Process, BDNF, Neurotrophic Factor
Current Neuropharmacology
Title: Developing Biomarkers for Methamphetamine Addiction
Volume: 9 Issue: 1
Author(s): John Mendelson, Matthew J. Baggott, Keith Flower and Gantt Galloway
Affiliation:
Keywords: Biomarker, methamphetamine, addiction, Drug Metabolism, Pathogenic Process, BDNF, Neurotrophic Factor
Abstract: There are an estimated 11.7 million methamphetamine (MA) abusers in the United States and epidemics of MA addiction are occurring worldwide. In our human laboratory and outpatient clinical trials we use innovative methods to quantify the severity of MA addiction and test biomarkers that may predict response to therapy or risk of relapse. One potential biomarker of addiction is the quantity of abused drug intake. Qualitative urinalysis is used in clinical trials and during treatment but provides only a binary outcome measure of abuse. Using non-pharmacologic doses of deuterium labeled l-MA we have developed a continuous quantitative measure to estimate the bioavailable amount of MA addicts ingest. Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor is a neurotrophin that encourages growth and differentiation of new neurons and synapses. Low BDNF levels are seen in many addictive disorders and BDNF is elevated in recovering MA addicts, suggesting BDNF may be a marker of MA addiction. We are investigating the effects of controlled doses of MA on BDNF levels and gene regulation and measuring BDNF in our clinical trials. We believe both patients and clinical researches will benefit from the addition of new, objective and quantifiable outcome measures that reflect disease severity and recovery from addiction.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Mendelson John, J. Baggott Matthew, Flower Keith and Galloway Gantt, Developing Biomarkers for Methamphetamine Addiction, Current Neuropharmacology 2011; 9 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157015911795017128
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157015911795017128 |
Print ISSN 1570-159X |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-6190 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
- Forthcoming Thematic Issues
Related Articles
-
Label-Free Cell Phenotypic Drug Discovery
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening Protective Effects of Astragalus Membranaceus and Ligustrazine on Rat Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cell Injury after Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation/ Reoxygenation by Suppressing the PKCδ/MARCKS Pathway
Combinatorial Chemistry & High Throughput Screening NOS Inhibitors: Structure, Biological Activity and Mechanism of Action
Current Enzyme Inhibition The Etiology of Hypertension in the Metabolic Syndrome Part Three: The Regulation and Dysregulation of Blood Pressure
Current Vascular Pharmacology Preparation and Characterization of 5-Fluorouracil Loaded Nanogels for Skin Cancer Treatments: In Vitro Drug Release, Cytotoxicity and Cellular Uptake Analysis
Current Nanomedicine Outcome Prediction after Non-aneurysmal Non-traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Current Neurovascular Research Subject Index To Volume 13
Current Medicinal Chemistry Blood-brain Barrier Drug Discovery for Central Nervous System Infections
Current Drug Targets - Infectious Disorders The Shift in the “Paradigm” of the Pharmacology of Hypertension
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Neuroprotective Effects of Citrus Fruit-Derived Flavonoids, Nobiletin and Tangeretin in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease
CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets Cell-Penetrating Peptide Technology to Deliver Chaperones and Associated Factors in Diseases and Basic Research
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Mesenchymal Stem Cells: New Approaches for the Treatment of Neurological Diseases
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy P2X7 Receptor Orchestrates Multiple Signalling Pathways Triggering Inflammation, Autophagy and Metabolic/Trophic Responses
Current Medicinal Chemistry Nosocomial Infections and Antimicrobial Treatment in Coiled Patients with Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Current Drug Targets Tetracyclic Triterpenoids in Herbal Medicines and their Activities in Diabetes and its Complications
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Traumatic Brain Injury Altered Normal Brain Signaling Pathways: Implications for Novel Therapeutics Approaches
Current Neuropharmacology Spin Trapping: An Essential Tool for the Study of Diseases Caused by Oxidative Stress
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry The Canadian Biomarker Integration Network in Depression (CAN-BIND): Advances in Response Prediction
Current Pharmaceutical Design Use of the Bradykinin Agonist, Cereport as a Pharmacological Means of Increasing Drug Delivery to the CNS
Current Medicinal Chemistry - Immunology, Endocrine & Metabolic Agents A Review on Noscapine, and its Impact on Heme Metabolism
Current Drug Metabolism