Epigenetic Studies for Evaluation of NPS Toxicity: Focus on Synthetic Cannabinoids and Cathinones
Leila Mazdai,
Matteo Fabbri,
Micaela Tirri,
Giorgia Corli,
Raffaella Arfè,
Beatrice Marchetti,
Sabrine Bilel,
Eva Bergamin,
Rosa Maria Gaudio,
Michele Rubini,
Fabio De-Giorgio,
Matteo Marti
Affiliations
Leila Mazdai
Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, Section of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Matteo Fabbri
Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Micaela Tirri
Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Giorgia Corli
Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Raffaella Arfè
Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Beatrice Marchetti
Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Sabrine Bilel
Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Eva Bergamin
Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Health Care Surveillance and Bioethics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
Rosa Maria Gaudio
Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Michele Rubini
Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, Section of Medical Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Fabio De-Giorgio
Section of Legal Medicine, Department of Health Care Surveillance and Bioethics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy
Matteo Marti
Department of Translational Medicine, Section of Legal Medicine, LTTA Center, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
In the recent decade, numerous new psychoactive substances (NPSs) have been added to the illicit drug market. These are synthetized to mimic the effects of classic drugs of abuse (i.e., cannabis, cocaine, etc.), with the purpose of bypassing substance legislations and increasing the pharmacotoxicological effects. To date, research into the acute pharmacological effects of new NPSs is ongoing and necessary in order to provide an appropriate contribution to public health. In fact, multiple examples of NPS-related acute intoxication and mortality have been recorded in the literature. Accordingly, several in vitro and in vivo studies have investigated the pharmacotoxicological profiles of these compounds, revealing that they can cause adverse effects involving various organ systems (i.e., cardiovascular, respiratory effects) and highlighting their potential increased consumption risks. In this sense, NPSs should be regarded as a complex issue that requires continuous monitoring. Moreover, knowledge of long-term NPS effects is lacking. Because genetic and environmental variables may impact NPS responses, epigenetics may aid in understanding the processes behind the harmful events induced by long-term NPS usage. Taken together, “pharmacoepigenomics” may provide a new field of combined study on genetic differences and epigenetic changes in drug reactions that might be predictive in forensic implications.
