Cigarette addiction is the leading cause of preventable death in our nation. Despite the life-threatening health consequences of smoking and the substantial heavy economic burden on society, close to 25% of the population continues to smoke. Two major factors contribute to continued smoking and relapse: craving elicited by smoking cues (SCs) and craving elicited by nicotine withdrawal (WD). Inability to combat WD-induced craving, which declines within a month, plays a major role in EARLY relapse. However, smokers report that SCs can trigger relapse months or even years after quitting. Existing smoking cessation medications alleviate WD and/or reduce nicotine reward, and are helpful for subgroups of smokers. However, other 'cue-vulnerable'smokers receive less benefit evincing the critical need to identify agents that target SC reactivity. A number of factors, including genetic variance, may underlie the relative contribution of SCs and WD to susceptibility to relapse. Indeed, we have found a profound effect of variance in the dopamine transporter SLC6A3 (DAT) gene on SC reactivity. Our findings are consistent with the well-established role of dopamine (DA) in drug reward and drug-associated cues. GABA B agonists modulate DA and have shown promise as drug cue blocking agents. Evidence suggests that the GABA B agonist, baclofen modulates drug seeking and taking behavior and thus may be a 'prototypical probe'to examine the effects of GABA B agonists on SC reactivity. The goal of this proposal is to identify a SC-vulnerable pharmaco-responsive endophenotype. Towards this goal, we will:
AIM 1, confirm a SC-vulnerable endophenotype mediated by variance in functional DA-modulating candidate genes AIM 2, utilize our innovative brain/behavioral/genetic paradigm to link 'baclofen-induced' neural responses during SC exposure with behavioral correlates to identify a pharmaco-responsive endophenotype~ and Exploratory AIM: explore the interaction between allelic variance in DA-modulating genes and baclofen- induced brain and behavioral responses. Our model will employ the quantitative technique of perfusion fMRI, which facilitates the measurement of medication-induced (longitudinal) neural modifications, both in the brain 'at rest'and during cognitive and emotional tasks. Thus, we will acquire resting baseline and SC exposure data in smokers prior to and following a 3-week medication regimen. Smoking behavior will be monitored using 'novel naturalistic methods'. DNA samples will be analyzed for allelic variance in DA-regulating genes. Ultimately, the goal for contemporary medicine is to establish brain/behavioral/genetic endophenotypes that predict medication response, such that treatments are tailored to manage individual vulnerabilities (i.e., Personalized Medicine). The proposed studies will provide knowledge about genetic influences and GABA agonist mechanisms on a major relapse predictor: SC reactivity. This will have a sustained and lasting impact on smoking treatment strategies and will aid in meeting a major goal set by NIDA, which is to """"""""Eradicate Tobacco Abuse and Addiction"""""""".

Public Health Relevance

The proposed project will utilize perfusion fMRI, a functional candidate gene association approach (of dopaminergic addictions-targeted polymorphisms), and the dopamine-modulating and GABA B agonist, baclofen to examine the brain and behavioral responses in smokers to appetitive smoking reminders (cues that motivate continued smoking and relapse). These studies will provide a means to identify an appetitive cue- sensitive pharmaco-responsive endophenotype. Once brain/behavioral/genetic endophenotypes can be determined prior to treatment, smoking cessation treatments can be structured to meet individual needs, which will significantly improve treatment outcome.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA030394-03
Application #
8725621
Study Section
Neural Basis of Psychopathology, Addictions and Sleep Disorders Study Section (NPAS)
Program Officer
Gordon, Harold
Project Start
2012-09-15
Project End
2017-06-30
Budget Start
2014-07-01
Budget End
2015-06-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2014
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pennsylvania
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19104
Franklin, Teresa R; Jagannathan, Kanchana; Hager, Nathan et al. (2018) Brain substrates of early (4h) cigarette abstinence: Identification of treatment targets. Drug Alcohol Depend 182:78-85
Wetherill, Reagan R; Rao, Hengyi; Hager, Nathan et al. (2018) Classifying and characterizing nicotine use disorder with high accuracy using machine learning and resting-state fMRI. Addict Biol :
Dumais, Kelly M; Franklin, Teresa R; Jagannathan, Kanchana et al. (2017) Multi-site exploration of sex differences in brain reactivity to smoking cues: Consensus across sites and methodologies. Drug Alcohol Depend 178:469-476
Wetherill, Reagan R; Jagannathan, Kanchana; Hager, Nathan et al. (2016) Influence of menstrual cycle phase on resting-state functional connectivity in naturally cycling, cigarette-dependent women. Biol Sex Differ 7:24
Wetherill, Reagan R; Franklin, Teresa R; Allen, Sharon S (2016) Ovarian hormones, menstrual cycle phase, and smoking: a review with recommendations for future studies. Curr Addict Rep 3:1-8
Li, Zhengjun; Fang, Zhuo; Hager, Nathan et al. (2016) Hyper-resting brain entropy within chronic smokers and its moderation by Sex. Sci Rep 6:29435
Franklin, Teresa R; Jagannathan, Kanchana; Wetherill, Reagan R et al. (2015) Influence of menstrual cycle phase on neural and craving responses to appetitive smoking cues in naturally cycling females. Nicotine Tob Res 17:390-7
Wetherill, Reagan R; Fang, Zhuo; Jagannathan, Kanchana et al. (2015) Cannabis, cigarettes, and their co-occurring use: Disentangling differences in default mode network functional connectivity. Drug Alcohol Depend 153:116-23
Wetherill, Reagan R; Jagannathan, Kanchana; Hager, Nathan et al. (2015) Cannabis, Cigarettes, and Their Co-Occurring Use: Disentangling Differences in Gray Matter Volume. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 18:pyv061
Franklin, Teresa R; Wetherill, Reagan R; Jagannathan, Kanchana et al. (2014) The effects of chronic cigarette smoking on gray matter volume: influence of sex. PLoS One 9:e104102

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