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PMID: 24313166 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Review

Epigenetic control of gene expression in the alcoholic brain.

Alcohol research : current reviews ·Vol. 35 ·No. 1 ·2013-00-00 ·Pages 69-76

Ponomarev I

Abstract

Chronic alcohol exposure causes widespread changes in brain gene expression in humans and animal models. Many of these contribute to cellular adaptations that ultimately lead to behavioral tolerance and alcohol dependence. There is an emerging appreciation for the role of epigenetic processes in alcohol-induced changes in brain gene expression and behavior. For example, chronic alcohol exposure produces changes in DNA and histone methylation, histone acetylation, and microRNA expression that affect expression of multiple genes in various types of brain cells (i.e., neurons and glia) and contribute to brain pathology and brain plasticity associated with alcohol abuse and dependence. Drugs targeting the epigenetic "master regulators" are emerging as potential therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders and drug addiction.

MeSH Terms
Alcoholism/genetics Animals Behavior/drug effects Brain/drug effects,metabolism Central Nervous System Depressants/adverse effects Epigenesis, Genetic/drug effects Ethanol/adverse effects Humans
Chemicals
Central Nervous System Depressants Ethanol
Authors & Affiliations
1 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Ponomarev Igor
Waggoner Center fsor Alcohol and Addicion Research, College of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA.
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Article Info
Journal
Alcohol research : current reviews
Abbr.
Alcohol Res
ISSN
2168-3492
Published
2013-00-00
Pages
69-76
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
101594475
PMCID
PMC3860426
Subset
IM
Grants
NIAAA NIH HHS · K-AA-017234 · United States
External Links
PubMed source PMC Full Text
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