Sex-specific dysregulation of the CX₃CL1/CX₃CR1 Axis following cocaine exposure: Translational evidence for a potential biomarker of abstinence.

ABSTRACT: Cocaine disrupts neurotransmitter systems and promotes neuroinflammation by activating microglia and altering cytokine signaling. The CX₃CL1/CX₃CR1 axis is an essential signaling pathway for microglial regulation, may exhibit sex-specific responses to cocaine. In this study, male and female Wistar rats were exposed to acute (5, 15, or 30 mg/kg) or repeated (15 mg/kg/day for two weeks) cocaine. Gene expression of Cx3cl1 and Cx3cr1 was assessed in the amygdala and hippocampus, alongside plasma CX₃CL1 concentrations. Additionally, plasma CX₃CL1 concentrations were assessed in 88 abstinent patients with cocaine use disorder (CUD) and 30 matched healthy controls. Female rats exhibited significantly lower baseline mRNA expression of Cx3cl1 and Cx3cr1 i

SUBMITTER: Porras-Perales O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12862095 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature