Neuroadaptations in human chronic alcoholics: dysregulation of the NF-kappaB system.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Alcohol dependence and associated cognitive impairments apparently result from neuroadaptations to chronic alcohol consumption involving changes in expression of multiple genes. Here we investigated whether transcription factors of Nuclear Factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) family, controlling neuronal plasticity and neurodegeneration, are involved in these adaptations in human chronic alcoholics.

Methods and findings

Analysis of DNA-binding of NF-kappaB (p65/p50 heterodimer) and the p50 homodimer as well as NF-kappaB proteins and mRNAs was performed in postmortem human brain samples from 15 chronic alcoholics and 15 control subjects. The prefrontal cortex involved in alcohol dependence and cognition was analyzed and the motor cortex was studied for comparison. The p50 hom

SUBMITTER: Okvist A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1976556 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature