RASGRF2-MEK inhibition for cocaine addiction

INDICATION: Addiction

Blocking phosphorylation of MAPK1 and MAPK3 in the nucleus accumbens region of the brain by inhibiting RASGRF2-MEK signaling could treat cocaine addiction. In a mouse model of the addiction, the number of cells expressing phosphorylated MAPK1 and MAPK3 in the striatum was higher after cocaine self-administration than before. Also in the model, injection into the nucleus accumbens of a lentiviral vector encoding an shRNA against RASGRF2 or a MEK inhibitor tool compound reduced self-administration of cocaine and numbers of cells expressing phosphorylated MAPK1 and MAPK3 in the striatum...