Growth factors in addiction

Growth factors have a broad spectrum of functions in the development and maintenance of the nervous system. Abnormal function or expression of several growth factors has been implicated in various neuropsychiatric diseases.

Chronic exposure to excessive quantities of alcohol or other drugs of abuse lead to alterations in the nervous system (neuroadaptation) that promote the development of addiction phenotypes. Such neuroadaptations include alteration of the growth factors systems (e.g. Brain Derived Neurotropic Factor, BDNF; and Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotropic Factor, GDNF), leading to transition from moderate and controlled alcohol consumption to excessive, out-of-control alcohol intake.

We are studying the role of these and other growth factors in the development of addiction, and in the aberrant learning and memory processes that are involved in addiction.

(Adapted from Barak et al., Addiction Biology, 2015)