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Scientific article
English

Addictive drugs modulate GIRK-channel signaling by regulating RGS proteins

Contributors

Lomazzi, Marta; Slesinger, Paul A.; Luescher, Christian

Published in

Trends in pharmacological sciences, vol. 29, no. 11, p. 544-549

Publication date

2008

Abstract

Regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins are strong modulators of G-protein-mediated pathways in the nervous system. One function of RGS proteins is to accelerate the activation-deactivation kinetics of G-protein-coupled inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels. The opening of GIRK channels reduces the firing rates of neurons. Recent studies indicate that RGS proteins also modulate the coupling efficiency between gamma-aminobutyric acid type B (GABA(B)) receptors and GIRK channels in dopamine neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA), the initial target for addictive drugs in the brain reward pathway. Chronic drug exposure can dynamically regulate the expression levels of RGS. Functional and behavioral studies now reveal that levels of RGS2 protein, through selective association with GIRK3, critically determine whether GABA(B) agonists are excitatory or inhibitory in the VTA. The regulation of RGS protein in the reward pathway might underlie adaptation to different types of addictive drugs.

Keywords

  • Animals
  • G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels/genetics/physiology
  • GTP-Binding Protein Regulators/genetics/physiology
  • Humans
  • Signal Transduction/drug effects/genetics
  • Substance-Related Disorders/genetics

UNIGE affiliation entities

UNIGE research groups

Citation (ISO format)

LOMAZZI, Marta, SLESINGER, Paul A., LUESCHER, Christian. Addictive drugs modulate GIRK-channel signaling by regulating RGS proteins. In: Trends in pharmacological sciences, 2008, vol. 29, n° 11, p. 544–549. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2008.07.011

Main files (1)

Article (Accepted version)

Identifiers

Journal ISSN

0165-6147
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Technical informations

Creation

02/04/2009 16:26:00

First validation

02/04/2009 16:26:00

Update

14/10/2025 07:13:06

Status update

14/03/2023 15:04:04

Last indexation

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