Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0030193 (pain)
 261,466 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Neuronal G-protein-gated potassium (K(G)) channels are activated by several neurotransmitters and constitute an important mode of synaptic inhibition in the mammalian nervous system. K(G) channels are composed of combinations of four subunits termed G protein-gated inwardly rectifying K(+) channels (GIRK). All four GIRK subunits are expressed in the brain, and there is a general consensus concerning the expression patterns of GIRK1, GIRK2, and GIRK3. The localization pattern of GIRK4, however, remains controversial. In this study, we exploit the negative background of mice lacking a functional GIRK4 gene to identify neuronal populations that contain GIRK4 mRNA. GIRK4 mRNA was detected in only a few regions of the mouse brain, including the deep cortical pyramidal neurons, the endopiriform nucleus and claustrum of the insular cortex, the globus pallidus, the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, parafascicular and paraventricular thalamic nuclei, and a few brainstem nuclei (e.g., the inferior olive and vestibular nuclei). Mice lacking GIRK4 were viable and appeared normal and did not display gross deficiencies in locomotor activity, visual tasks, and pain perception. Furthermore, GIRK4-deficient mice performed similarly to wild-type controls in the passive avoidance paradigm, a test of aversive learning. GIRK4 knock-out mice did, however, exhibit impaired performance in the Morris water maze, a test of spatial learning and memory.
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PMID:Brain localization and behavioral impact of the G-protein-gated K+ channel subunit GIRK4. 1090 97

Opioids, such as morphine and fentanyl, are widely used as effective analgesics for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. In addition, the opioid system has a key role in the rewarding effects of morphine, ethanol, cocaine and various other drugs. The authors have focused on G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channel subunits, GIRK2 and GIRK3, that are important molecules in opioid transmission, and found that the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the GIRK2 and GIRK3 gene regions were significantly associated with postoperative requirements of analgesics including opioids in patients who underwent abdominal surgery and mRNA expression of these genes in postmortem specimens, one of which was also associated with vulnerability to methamphetamine (METH) dependence. Further, by conducting a multistage genome-wide association study (GWAS) in healthy subjects, the authors found that genetic polymorphisms within a linkage disequilibrium block that spans 2q33.3-2q34 were strongly associated with the requirements for postoperative opioid analgesics after painful cosmetic surgery. The C allele of the best candidate SNP, rs2952768, was associated with more analgesic requirements, and consistent results were obtained in patients who underwent abdominal surgery. In addition, carriers of the C allele in this SNP exhibited less vulnerability to severe drug dependence in patients with methamphetamine dependence, alcohol dependence, and eating disorders and a lower 'Reward Dependence score on a personality questionnaire in healthy subjects. Furthermore, the C/C genotype of this SNP was significantly associated with the elevated expression of a neighboring gene, CREB1. The results show that SNPs in this locus are the most potent genetic factors associated with human opioid sensitivity known to date, affecting both the efficacy of opioid analgesics and liability to severe substance dependence. These outcomes provide valuable information for the personalized treatment of pain and drug dependence.
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PMID:[Genetic polymorphisms commonly influencing efficacy of diverse addictive substances]. 2494 91

Opioids, such as morphine and fentanyl, are widely used as effective analgesics for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. In addition, the opioid system has a key role in the rewarding effects of morphine, ethanol, cocaine and various other drugs. The authors have focused on G-protein-activated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channel subunits, GIRK2 and GIRK3, which are important molecules in opioid transmission, and found that the SNPs within the GIRK2 and GIRK3 gene region were significantly associated with postoperative analgesic requirements, one of which was also associated with vulnerability to methamphetamine (METH) dependence. Further, by conducting a multistage genome-wide association study (GWAS) in healthy subjects, the authors found that the rs2952768 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was strongly associated with the requirements for postoperative opioid analgesics after painful cosmetic surgery and consistent results were obtained in patients who underwent abdominal surgery. In addition, the SNP also showed significant association with vulnerability to severe drug dependence in patients with METH dependence, alcohol dependence, and eating disorders and a lower 'Reward Dependence' score on a personality questionnaire in healthy subjects. These outcomes provide valuable information for the personalized treatment of pain and drug dependence.
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PMID:[Genetic polymorphisms commonly associated with sensitivity to various addictive substances]. 2506 59