Histone Deacetylases and Immediate Early Genes: Key Players in Psychostimulant-Induced Neuronal Plasticity

IEGs play a critical functional role of in molecular, cellular, and behavioral alterations induced by psychostimulants. IEGs appear to have specific chromatin structures that may contribute to the rapid activation of their transcription. HDAC enzymes regulate reversible acetylation of lysine residues of histones and non-histone proteins. Dysregulation of HDACs has been proposed to modulate the establishment and maintenance of aberrant transcriptional programs and behaviors associated with cognitive dysfunctions and drug addiction. In this mini-review we focus our attention on recent discoveries concerning networks of protein-protein interactions for the two classes of HDAC protein family members that are highly expressed in neurons, class I and IIa HDACs. Because dynamic histone acetylation appears to be critical to IEG expression in the brain, we discuss the role of these epigenetic regulators on IEG expression induced by cocaine and methamphetamine intake.

Automated summary

IEGs play a critical role in molecular, cellular, and behavioral alterations induced by psychostimulants. HDAC enzymes regulate reversible acetylation of histones and non-histone proteins, with dysregulation proposed to modulate aberrant transcriptional programs and behaviors associated with cognitive dysfunctions and drug addiction. The study focuses on protein-protein interactions within the two highly expressed classes of HDAC protein family members in neurons, discussing the role of epigenetic regulators on IEG expression induced by cocaine and methamphetamine intake.