Increased functional coupling of the mu opioid receptor in the anterior insula of depressed individuals.

ABSTRACT: The mu opioid receptor (MOR) is a G protein-coupled receptor that plays an essential role in reward and hedonic processes, and that has been implicated in disorders such as depression and addiction. Over the last decade, several brain imaging studies in depressed patients have consistently found that dysregulation of MOR function occurs in particular in the anterior insular cortex, an important brain site for the perception of internal states and emotional regulation. To investigate molecular mechanisms that may underlie these effects, here we assessed genetic polymorphisms, expression, and functional G-protein coupling of MOR in a large post-mortem cohort (N = 95) composed of depressed individuals who died by suicide, and healthy controls. Results indicated that depression, but not comorb

SUBMITTER: Lutz PE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8115105 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature