Citation

Shen W, Liu H, Xie X, Liu H, Zhou W. Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 2017; 1010: 169-202.

Affiliation

Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Addiction Research, Medical School of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315010, Zhejiang Province, China. whzhou@vip.163.com.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/978-981-10-5562-1_9

PMID

29098673

Abstract

An optimal biochemical marker for addiction would be some easily traced molecules in body specimens, which indicates indulgent addictive behaviors, or susceptibility to certain addictive stimuli. In this chapter, we discussed existing literature about possible biomarkers, and classified them into three categories: origin forms and metabolites of substances, markers from biochemical responses to certain addiction, and genetic and epigenetic biomarkers suggesting susceptibility to addiction. In every category, we examined studies concerning certain type of addiction one by one, with focuses mainly on opiates, psychostimulants, and pathological gambling. Several promising molecules were highlighted, including those of neurotrophic factors, inflammatory factors, and indicators of vascular injury, and genetic and epigenetic biomarkers such as serum miRNAs. DNA methylation signatures and signal nucleotide polymorphism of candidate gene underlying the addiction.

Language: en

Keywords

Biochemical diagnosis; Non-substance addiction; Substance addiction