Glial Neuroimmune Signaling in Opioid Reward.

Glial Neuroimmune Signaling in Opioid Reward.
Brain Res Bull. 2019 Nov 29;:
Authors: Zhang H, Largent-Milnes TM, Vanderah TW
Abstract
The opioid epidemic is a growing public concern affecting millions of people worldwide. Opioid-induced reward is the initial and key process leading to opioid abuse and addiction. Therefore, a better understanding of opioid reward may be helpful in developing a treatment for opioid addiction. Emerging evidence suggests that glial cells, particularly microglia and astrocytes, play an essential role in modulating opioid reward. Indeed, glial cells and their associated immune signaling actively regulate neural activity and plasticity, and directly modulate opioid-induced rewarding behaviors. In this review, we describe the neuroimmune mechanisms of how glial cells affect synaptic transmission and plasticity as well as how opioids can activate glial cells affecting the glial-neuronal interaction. Last, we summarize current attempts of applying glial modulators in treating opioid reward.
PMID: 31790721 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Brain Research Bulletin - November 28, 2019 Category: Neurology Authors: Zhang H, Largent-Milnes TM, Vanderah TW Tags: Brain Res Bull Source Type: research