Differentially expressed gene networks, biomarkers, long noncoding RNAs, and shared responses with cocaine identified in the midbrains of human opioid abusers

Abstract excerpt

Opioid abuse is now the most common cause of accidental death in the US. Although opioids and most other drugs of abuse acutely increase signaling mediated by midbrain dopamine (DA)-synthesizing neurons, little is known about long-lasting changes in DA cells that may contribute to continued opioid abuse, craving, and relapse. A better understanding of the molecular and cellular bases of opioid abuse could lead to...