Abstract: Binge drinking is a major health problem in the United States resulting in approximately 88,000 deaths per year. One important receptor tyrosine kinase that plays a role in addiction and alcohol dependence is Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). Specifically, this enzyme is involved in a signaling cascade that relays signals to specific neurons in the nervous system. Experiments analyzing several inhibitors of ALK have found that addiction behaviors, such as cocaine sensitization and binge drinking were reduced after treatment with the inhibitors. Two inhibitors that showed a significant decrease in binge drinking were TAE684 and Alectinib. After treatment with the inhibitors, it was discovered that ethanol consumption decreased in mice.
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Binge drinking contributes to a variety of health risks including heart disease, neurological damage, stroke, liver disease and high blood pressure. Namely, a 2015 study found that alcoholic men and women have a higher prevalence of prolactinomas, or pituitary tumors [2]. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a RTK linked to alcohol dependence in humans and plays an important role in addiction. This receptor is also associated with behavioral responses to alcohol in mice [1]. ALK is expressed on dopamine receptors in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the brain, which is the most primitive part of the brain associated with addiction. The neurons in this region synthesize dopamine and are highly sensitive to …show more content…
This suggests that ALK could possibly be a viable target for the treatment of alcohol use disorders. Although both inhibitors showed a decrease in ethanol consumption, more of a significant decrease was seen in the mice treated with Alectinib (see figure 1). One possible explanation for this finding is that the Alectinib was given in a higher dosage than TAE684. This could have resulted in Alectinib being more effective at reducing ethanol consumption. Further studies should consider administering TAE684 and Alectinib in equal dosages to determine whether they have the same preference for ALK. These findings were further supported by the VTA experiments, which also showed how much of an influence ALK has on addictive behaviors. Alk knockout mice consumed less ethanol, further indicating that ALK is a major contributor to binge-like
Binge drinking contributes to a variety of health risks including heart disease, neurological damage, stroke, liver disease and high blood pressure. Namely, a 2015 study found that alcoholic men and women have a higher prevalence of prolactinomas, or pituitary tumors [2]. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a RTK linked to alcohol dependence in humans and plays an important role in addiction. This receptor is also associated with behavioral responses to alcohol in mice [1]. ALK is expressed on dopamine receptors in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the brain, which is the most primitive part of the brain associated with addiction. The neurons in this region synthesize dopamine and are highly sensitive to …show more content…
This suggests that ALK could possibly be a viable target for the treatment of alcohol use disorders. Although both inhibitors showed a decrease in ethanol consumption, more of a significant decrease was seen in the mice treated with Alectinib (see figure 1). One possible explanation for this finding is that the Alectinib was given in a higher dosage than TAE684. This could have resulted in Alectinib being more effective at reducing ethanol consumption. Further studies should consider administering TAE684 and Alectinib in equal dosages to determine whether they have the same preference for ALK. These findings were further supported by the VTA experiments, which also showed how much of an influence ALK has on addictive behaviors. Alk knockout mice consumed less ethanol, further indicating that ALK is a major contributor to binge-like