Abstract—Hidden drug abuse has become a concerning issue in Hong Kong, despite an overall decrease in reported cases. The opioid epidemic, fueled by substances like heroin and fentanyl, continues to be a global problem. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of morphine addiction is crucial for developing effective treatments to combat this problem. This study investigates the gene expression patterns of key players in morphine addiction in the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) region of the mesolimbic dopamine system, a key area in drug-associated reward. The RNA transcripts produced in mice NAc under acute morphine treatment can reveal transcriptional changes that alter the regulation of gene expression related to its molecular mechanisms. By analyzing publicly available single-cell RNA sequencing data, we identified gene expression patterns in specific cell types for genes like BDNF, ΔFosB, CREB, and Npy, all of which were previously studied to be relevant to morphine addiction. The study also highlights novel differentially expressed genes in response to morphine treatment. These findings provide insight into new and relevant genes as well as their cell type-specific expression patterns to glean the pathways that they influence. Understanding these molecular processes can inform personalized pharmaceutical approaches and aid in the development of new therapies.
 

Keywords—morphine addiction, single-cell RNA sequencing, nucleus accumbens, transcriptomics, cell-type specificity, differential expression analysis

Cite: Shuqing Zhang, "Cell Type-Specific Expression of Molecular Players in Morphine Action," International Journal of Pharma Medicine and Biological Sciences, Vol. 13, No. 3, pp. 86-95, 2024.

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