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.
Export Options
About this article
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 |
- 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
Related Articles
-
The Rapidly Changing Composition of the Global Street Drug Supply and its Effects on High-risk Groups for COVID-19
Current Psychopharmacology IgG4 Related Syndrome: Another Multiorgan Disease in the Interest Field of Internal Medicine
Current Pharmaceutical Design Resistin and Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of the Current Literature Regarding Clinical and Pathological Relationships
Current Cardiology Reviews Cigarette Smoking and Angiogenesis: What is the Role of Endothelial Progenitor Cells?
Current Angiogenesis (Discontinued) Retinoids as Critical Modulators of Immune Functions: New Therapeutic Perspectives for Old Compounds
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets Ginger and Heart Health: From Mechanisms to Therapeutics
Current Molecular Pharmacology Anti Citrullinated Protein Antibodies and Mechanism of Action of Common Disease Modifying Drugs - Insights in Pathomechanisms of Autoimmunity
Current Pharmaceutical Design Anti-TNF-α Antibody Therapies in Autoimmune Diseases
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Oral Inflammation and Bacteremia: Implications for Chronic and Acute Systemic Diseases Involving Major Organs
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Green Tea from the Far East to the Drug Store: Focus on the Beneficial Cardiovascular Effects
Current Pharmaceutical Design Cardiovascular Disease in the Rheumatic Diseases: How Systemic Inflammation May Contribute to Atherogenesis
Current Rheumatology Reviews Selective Elevation of Circulating CCL2/MCP1 Levels in Patients with Longstanding Post-vaccinal Macrophagic Myofasciitis and ASIA
Current Medicinal Chemistry Ocular Inflammatory Diseases: Molecular Pathogenesis and Immunotherapy
Current Molecular Medicine Top Three Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine Applications at the Nexus of Renal Pathophysiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine Pathophysiology of Atherosclerosis: The Role of Inflammation
Current Pharmaceutical Design Bacterial Zinc Proteases and their Inhibition
Current Enzyme Inhibition Endothelial Dysfunction: Methods of Assessment and Application to Hypertension
Current Pharmaceutical Design Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors in the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction
Current Pharmaceutical Design C-Reactive Protein and Asymmetric Dimethylarginine: Markers or Mediators in Cardiovascular Disorders?
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Involvement of Norepinephrine in Behaviors Related to Psychostimulant Addiction
Current Neuropharmacology