Biomol Ther.  2018 Sep;26(5):425-431. 10.4062/biomolther.2018.141.

Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript (CART) Peptide Plays Critical Role in Psychostimulant-Induced Depression

Affiliations
  • 1Queen Mary Institute, School of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 33006, China.
  • 2Neuropsychopharmacology and Toxicology Program, College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea.
  • 3Department of Molecular Medicine and TIDRC, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 07985, Republic of Korea.
  • 4Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Osong 28160, Republic of Korea. kiwan@chungbuk.ac.kr
  • 5Department of Pathophysiology, College of Medicine, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 33006, China. huzhenzhen@ncu.edu.cn

Abstract

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide is a widely distributed neurotransmitter expressed in the central nervous systems. Previously, several reports demonstrated that nucleus accumbal-injected CART peptide positively modulated behavioral sensitization induced by psychostimulants and regulated the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic pathway. It is confirmed that CART peptide exerted inhibitory effect on psychostimulant-enhanced dopamine receptors signaling, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase signaling and crucial transcription factors expression. Besides modulation of dopamine receptors-related pathways, CART peptide also exhibited elaborated interactions with other neurotransmitter receptors, such as glutamate receptors and γ-aminobutyric acid receptors, which further account for attribution of CART peptide to inhibition of psychostimulant-potentiated locomotor activity. Recently, CART peptide has been shown to have anxiolytic functions on the aversive mood and uncontrolled drug-seeking behaviors following drug withdrawal. Moreover, microinjection of CART peptide has been shown to have an anti-depressant effect, which suggests its potential utility in the mood regulation and avoidance of depression-like behaviors. In this review, we discuss CART pathways in neural circuits and their interactions with neurotransmitters associated with psychostimulant-induced depression.

Keyword

CART peptide; Addiction; Psychostimulant; Depression

MeSH Terms

Central Nervous System
Depression*
Dopamine
Drug-Seeking Behavior
Microinjections
Motor Activity
Neurotransmitter Agents
Phosphotransferases
Receptors, Dopamine
Receptors, Glutamate
Receptors, Neurotransmitter
Transcription Factors
Dopamine
Neurotransmitter Agents
Phosphotransferases
Receptors, Dopamine
Receptors, Glutamate
Receptors, Neurotransmitter
Transcription Factors
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