Abstract
Drug abuse is currently a large economic and societal burden in countries around the globe. Many drugs of abuse currently lack adequate therapies aimed at treating both the addiction and negative complications often associated with their use. Sigma-1 receptors were discovered over 30 years ago and have recently become targets for the development of pharmacotherapies aimed at treating substance abuse and addiction. In vivo preclinical studies have revealed that sigma receptor ligands are able to ameliorate select behavioral effects of many drugs of abuse including cocaine, methamphetamine, ethanol and nicotine. In addition, recent studies have begun to elucidate the mechanisms by which sigma-1 receptors modulate the effects of these drugs on neurotransmission, gene regulation and neuroplasticity. Overall, these recent findings suggest that compounds targeting sigma-1 receptors may represent a potential new class of therapeutics aimed at treating drug abuse. Future studies involving clinical populations will be critical for validating the therapeutic potential of sigma-1 receptor ligands for the treatment of substance abuse.
Keywords: Sigma receptor, cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine, ethanol, drug abuse, addiction, opioid, neurotransmission, neuroplasticity
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title: Sigma-1 Receptors: Potential Targets for the Treatment of Substance Abuse
Volume: 18 Issue: 7
Author(s): Matthew J. Robson, Bahar Noorbakhsh, Michael J. Seminerio and Rae R. Matsumoto
Affiliation:
Keywords: Sigma receptor, cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine, ethanol, drug abuse, addiction, opioid, neurotransmission, neuroplasticity
Abstract: Drug abuse is currently a large economic and societal burden in countries around the globe. Many drugs of abuse currently lack adequate therapies aimed at treating both the addiction and negative complications often associated with their use. Sigma-1 receptors were discovered over 30 years ago and have recently become targets for the development of pharmacotherapies aimed at treating substance abuse and addiction. In vivo preclinical studies have revealed that sigma receptor ligands are able to ameliorate select behavioral effects of many drugs of abuse including cocaine, methamphetamine, ethanol and nicotine. In addition, recent studies have begun to elucidate the mechanisms by which sigma-1 receptors modulate the effects of these drugs on neurotransmission, gene regulation and neuroplasticity. Overall, these recent findings suggest that compounds targeting sigma-1 receptors may represent a potential new class of therapeutics aimed at treating drug abuse. Future studies involving clinical populations will be critical for validating the therapeutic potential of sigma-1 receptor ligands for the treatment of substance abuse.
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Cite this article as:
J. Robson Matthew, Noorbakhsh Bahar, J. Seminerio Michael and R. Matsumoto Rae, Sigma-1 Receptors: Potential Targets for the Treatment of Substance Abuse, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2012; 18 (7) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212799436601
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212799436601 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
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