Chapter 10 - DNA Methylation, Psychostimulant-Induced Addiction and the Position of Cocaine

Abstract

Drug addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder that is characterized by compulsive, uncontrollable drug use despite negative consequences. In recent years, an increasing number of reports have provided crucial evidence that epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, in mesolimbic brain areas may alter psychostimulant-induced transcriptional and behavioral changes. Accumulating data now suggest that psychostimulants (e.g., cocaine, amphetamine) can directly alter enzymes that modify DNA methylation and demethylation and gene expression that are involved in brain maladaptation. In addition, different environmental factors via the DNA methylation and demethylation may alter subject vulnerability to drug abuse. In this review, we give an overview of DNA methylation and demethylation processes. We shortly describe the connections between DNA methylation and demethylation processes with other epigenetic modifications. We also summarize the latest findings from both molecular and behavioral experiments elucidating the potential role of DNA methylation and demethylation in the pathogenesis of psychostimulant-induced drug addiction.