Huang Zeyi, Wu Daichao, Qu Xilin, Li Meixiang, Zou Ju, Tan Sijie
Department of Histology and Embryology, Institute of Clinical Anatomy & Reproductive Medicine, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, 28 W. Changsheng Road, Hengyang421001,Hunan, China.
Grade 2017 of Clinical Medicine, Hunan Province Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang421001,Hunan, China.
Rev Neurosci. 2020 Sep 3. doi: 10.1515/revneuro-2020-0044.
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death worldwide and tobacco addiction has become a serious public health problem. Nicotine is the main addictive component of tobacco, and the majority of people that smoke regularly develop nicotine dependence. Nicotine addiction is deemed to be a chronic mental disorder. Although it is well known that nicotine binds to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and activates the mesolimbic dopaminergic system (MDS) to generate the pleasant and rewarding effects, the molecular mechanisms of nicotine addiction are not fully understood. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is the most prevalent growth factor in the brain, which regulates neuron survival, differentiation, and synaptic plasticity, mainly through binding to the high affinity receptor tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB). BDNF gene polymorphisms are associated with nicotine dependence and blood BDNF levels are altered in smokers. In this review, we discussed the effects of nicotine on BDNF expression in the brain and summarized the underlying signaling pathways, which further indicated BDNF as a key regulator in nicotine dependence. Further studies that aim to understand the neurobiological mechanism of BDNF in nicotine addcition would provide a valuable reference for quitting smoking and developing the treatment of other addictive substances.
吸烟是全球可预防的首要死因，烟草成瘾已成为一个严重的公共卫生问题。尼古丁是烟草的主要成瘾成分，大多数经常吸烟的人会产生尼古丁依赖。尼古丁成瘾被认为是一种慢性精神障碍。虽然众所周知尼古丁与烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体（nAChRs）结合并激活中脑边缘多巴胺能系统（MDS）以产生愉悦和奖赏效应，但尼古丁成瘾的分子机制尚未完全明确。脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）是大脑中最普遍的生长因子，主要通过与高亲和力受体酪氨酸激酶受体B（TrkB）结合来调节神经元的存活、分化和突触可塑性。BDNF基因多态性与尼古丁依赖有关，吸烟者的血液BDNF水平会发生改变。在本综述中，我们讨论了尼古丁对大脑中BDNF表达的影响，并总结了潜在的信号通路，这进一步表明BDNF是尼古丁依赖的关键调节因子。旨在了解BDNF在尼古丁成瘾中的神经生物学机制将为戒烟和开发其他成瘾物质的治疗方法提供有价值的参考。
