Are AMPA Receptor Positive Allosteric Modulators Potential Pharmacotherapeutics for Addiction?

Pharmaceuticals

Lucas R. Watterson¹ 

[1] Department of Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience Area, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA

关键词: AMPA PAMs;    positive allosteric modulators;    extinction;    addiction;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ph7010029

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors are a diverse class of compounds that increase fast excitatory transmission in the brain. AMPA PAMs have been shown to facilitate long-term potentiation, strengthen communication between various cortical and subcortical regions, and some of these compounds increase the production and release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in an activity-dependent manner. Through these mechanisms, AMPA PAMs have shown promise as broad spectrum pharmacotherapeutics in preclinical and clinical studies for various neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. In recent years, a small collection of preclinical animal studies has also shown that AMPA PAMs may have potential as pharmacotherapeutic adjuncts to extinction-based or cue-exposure therapies for the treatment of drug addiction. The present paper will review this preclinical literature, discuss novel data collected in our laboratory, and recommend future research directions for the possible development of AMPA PAMs as anti-addiction medications.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.