Glial and Neuroimmune Mechanisms as Critical Modulators of Drug Use and Abuse

Drugs of abuse cause persistent alterations in synaptic plasticity that may underlie addiction behaviors. Evidence suggests glial cells have an essential and underappreciated role in the development and maintenance of drug abuse by influencing neuronal and synaptic functions in multifaceted ways. Mi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuropsychopharmacology (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2017-01, Vol.42 (1), p.156-177
Main Authors: Lacagnina, Michael J, Rivera, Phillip D, Bilbo, Staci D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Addictive behaviors
Astrocytes - drug effects
Astrocytes - immunology
Astrocytes - metabolism
Behavior
Brain - drug effects
Brain - immunology
Brain - metabolism
Brain research
Drug abuse
Drug addiction
Drug use
Humans
Microglia - drug effects
Microglia - immunology
Microglia - metabolism
Narcotics
Neuropsychopharmacology Reviews
Neurosciences
Substance-Related Disorders - immunology
Substance-Related Disorders - metabolism
Toll-Like Receptors - drug effects
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Summary:Drugs of abuse cause persistent alterations in synaptic plasticity that may underlie addiction behaviors. Evidence suggests glial cells have an essential and underappreciated role in the development and maintenance of drug abuse by influencing neuronal and synaptic functions in multifaceted ways. Microglia and astrocytes perform critical functions in synapse formation and refinement in the developing brain, and there is growing evidence that disruptions in glial function may be implicated in numerous neurological disorders throughout the lifespan. Linking evidence of function in health and under pathological conditions, this review will outline the glial and neuroimmune mechanisms that may contribute to drug-abuse liability, exploring evidence from opioids, alcohol, and psychostimulants. Drugs of abuse can activate microglia and astrocytes through signaling at innate immune receptors, which in turn influence neuronal function not only through secretion of soluble factors (eg, cytokines and chemokines) but also potentially through direct remodeling of the synapses. In sum, this review will argue that neural-glial interactions represent an important avenue for advancing our understanding of substance abuse disorders.
ISSN:0893-133X
1740-634X
DOI:10.1038/npp.2016.121