MeCP2 controls BDNF expression and cocaine intake through homeostatic interactions with microRNA-212 : Nature Neuroscience : Nature Publishing Group

MeCP2 controls BDNF expression and cocaine intake through homeostatic interactions with microRNA-212
Heh-In Im,Jonathan A Hollander,Purva Bali& Paul J Kenny

Journal name: Nature Neuroscience
Year published: (2010)
DOI:
doi:10.1038/nn.2615
Received12 May 2010
Accepted05 July 2010
Published online15 August 2010

Abstract

The X-linked transcriptional repressor methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), known for its role in the neurodevelopmental disorder Rett syndrome, is emerging as an important regulator of neuroplasticity in postmitotic neurons. Cocaine addiction is commonly viewed as a disorder of neuroplasticity, but the potential involvement of MeCP2 has not been explored. Here we identify a key role for MeCP2 in the dorsal striatum in the escalating cocaine intake seen in rats with extended access to the drug, a process that mimics the increasingly uncontrolled cocaine use seen in addicted humans. MeCP2 regulates cocaine intake through homeostatic interactions with microRNA-212 (miR-212) to control the effects of cocaine on striatal brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels. These data suggest that homeostatic interactions between MeCP2 and miR-212 in dorsal striatum may be important in regulating vulnerability to cocaine addiction.

open here to see the full-text:
MeCP2 controls BDNF expression and cocaine intake through homeostatic interactions with microRNA-212 : Nature Neuroscience : Nature Publishing Group


online publication
http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/vaop/ncurrent/index.html