Adaptations in glutathione-based redox protein signaling pathways and alcohol drinking across species

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy Vol. 180; p. 117514
• Main Authors: Womersley, Jacqueline S., Obellianne, Clémence, Padula, Audrey E., Lopez, Marcelo F., Griffin, William C., Ball, Lauren E., Berto, Stefano, Grant, Kathleen A., Townsend, Danyelle M., Uys, Joachim D., Mulholland, Patrick J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01.11.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Alcohol; Carnosic acid; GSTP; Nucleus accumbens; Posttranslational modification; S-glutathionylation; Nucleus accumbens; Posttranslational modification; Alcohol; GSTP; S-glutathionylation; Carnosic acid
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117514

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is the most prevalent substance use disorder but there is incomplete knowledge of the underlying molecular etiology. Here, we examined the cytosolic proteome from the nucleus accumbens core (NAcC) of ethanol drinking rhesus macaques to identify ethanol-sensitive signaling proteins. The targets were subsequently investigated using bioinformatics, genetic, and pharmacological manipulations in mouse models of ethanol drinking. Of the 1000+ cytosolic proteins identified in our screen, 50 proteins differed significantly between control and ethanol drinking macaques. Gene Ontology analysis of the differentially expressed proteins identified enrichment in pathways regulating metabolic processes and proteasome activity. Because the family of Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) was enriched in these pathways, validation studies targeted GSTs using bioinformatics and genetically diverse mouse models. Gstp1 and Gstm2 were identified in Quantitative Trait Loci and published gene sets for ethanol-related phenotypes (e.g., ethanol preference, conditioned taste aversion, differential expression), and recombinant inbred strains that inherited the C57BL/6J allele at the Gstp2 interval consumed higher amounts of ethanol than those that inherited the DBA/2J allele. Genetic deletion of Gstp1/2 led to increased ethanol consumption without altering ethanol metabolism or sucrose preference. Administration of the pharmacologic activator of Gstp1/2, carnosic acid, decreased voluntary ethanol drinking. Proteomic analysis of the NAcC cytosolic of heavy drinking macaques that were validated in mouse models indicate a role for glutathione-mediated redox regulation in ethanol-related neurobiology and the potential of pharmacological interventions targeting this system to modify excessive ethanol drinking. [Display omitted] •Mass spectrometry analysis identified a role for glutathione redox signaling in ethanol consumption.•GST is associated with ethanol-related behaviors in mice.•Genetic deletion of GSTP activity increased ethanol consumption.•Carnosic acid-induced upregulation of GSTP expression and reduced ethanol drinking.•S-glutathionylation of specific protein(s) is a valid pharmacological target for alcohol use disorder treatment.