Detecting and controlling heroin addiction genes

Although medicine has made great strides in studying the mechanism of addiction and detoxification, many people have relapsed after 2-3 months of detoxification. Recently, scientists in the US have published a new discovery about the genus of heroin addiction and how to control it.

Herpes virus

Ivan Diamond, a member of the research team at the Ernest Gallo Research and Health Center (USA), said: "Many drug addicts tried to quit, but after a few months most of them relapsed." .

In 2004, a study showed that cocaine causes an accumbens gene called ANS3 to quickly code many proteins involved in pleasure and cravings.

Diamond and his team isolated the AGS3 and protein genes in accumbens human cells. After cloning and studying these cells in the lab, the researchers determined that the drug-related function of AGS3 is the immediate activity in the accumbens core when reacting to the cortical regions of the brain. application.

A type of AGS3 control is created from a herpes virus. It causes temporary "discomfort" with cycle-winning proteins and locks the craving cycle - pleasure until the virus "clears" the body for a few weeks.

Concomitant drug addicted mice with conditional reflexes of AGS3 controlled drugs on the accumbens core after they have taken detoxification in a short time. After that, each rat was given a small dose of heroin. Usually the taste of the drug will require more cravings, but the type of AGS3 control prevents relapse by eliminating craving.

Diamond told New Scientist magazine that this method could be carried out on people after 2 years.