Pandey Subhash C
The Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago and VA Chicago Health Care System, 820 South Damen Avenue (m/c 151), Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2003 Sep;24(9):456-60. doi: 10.1016/S0165-6147(03)00226-8.
It has been hypothesized that anxiety disorders play an important role in the initiation and maintenance of alcohol drinking behaviors. However, the molecular mechanisms for the association between anxiety and alcohol abuse are not well understood. Structures of the extended amygdala, particularly the central nucleus of amygdala, are involved in anxiety and in motivational aspects of alcohol drinking behaviors. Here, I propose that cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) has a role in anxiety and alcohol drinking behaviors. The CREB gene transcription factor regulates the expression of the gene encoding neuropeptide Y (NPY), and decreased concentrations of NPY are implicated in anxiety and alcohol drinking behaviors. Therefore, decreased function of CREB in the central nucleus of the amygdala might regulate anxiety and alcohol intake via decreased expression of NPY, and might provide a common link between anxiety and alcohol abuse disorders. I also suggest that, via CREB, NPY might interact with other CREB target genes, such as the gene encoding brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and that this CREB-mediated interaction might be important in the regulation of anxiety and alcohol drinking behaviors.
据推测，焦虑症在饮酒行为的起始和维持中起重要作用。然而，焦虑与酒精滥用之间关联的分子机制尚未完全明确。杏仁核扩展结构，特别是杏仁核中央核，参与了焦虑以及饮酒行为的动机方面。在此，我提出环磷腺苷反应元件结合蛋白（CREB）在焦虑和饮酒行为中发挥作用。CREB基因转录因子调节神经肽Y（NPY）编码基因的表达，而NPY浓度降低与焦虑和饮酒行为有关。因此，杏仁核中央核中CREB功能的降低可能通过NPY表达的减少来调节焦虑和酒精摄入量，并可能为焦虑和酒精滥用障碍之间提供一个共同的联系。我还认为，通过CREB，NPY可能与其他CREB靶基因相互作用，如脑源性神经营养因子编码基因，并且这种CREB介导的相互作用可能在焦虑和饮酒行为的调节中起重要作用。
