Molecular Toxicology and Pathophysiology of Comorbid Alcohol Use Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Associated with Traumatic Brain Injury

Zufeng Wang; Chengliang Luo; Edward W. Zhou; Aaron F. Sandhu; Xiaojing Yuan; George E. Williams; Jialu Cheng; Bharati Sinha; Mohammed Akbar; Pallab Bhattacharya; Shuanhu Zhou; Byoung-Joon Song; Xin Wang

doi:10.3390/ijms24108805

International Journal of Molecular Sciences (May 2023)

Molecular Toxicology and Pathophysiology of Comorbid Alcohol Use Disorder and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Associated with Traumatic Brain Injury

Zufeng Wang,
Chengliang Luo,
Edward W. Zhou,
Aaron F. Sandhu,
Xiaojing Yuan,
George E. Williams,
Jialu Cheng,
Bharati Sinha,
Mohammed Akbar,
Pallab Bhattacharya,
Shuanhu Zhou,
Byoung-Joon Song,
Xin Wang

Affiliations

Zufeng Wang: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Chengliang Luo: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Edward W. Zhou: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Aaron F. Sandhu: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Xiaojing Yuan: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
George E. Williams: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Jialu Cheng: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Bharati Sinha: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Mohammed Akbar: Division of Neuroscience & Behavior, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892, USA
Pallab Bhattacharya: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar 382355, Gujarat, India
Shuanhu Zhou: Harvard Medical School, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Byoung-Joon Song: Section of Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20892, USA
Xin Wang: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24108805
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 24, no. 10
p. 8805

Abstract

Read online

The increasing comorbidity of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious medical, economic, and social issue. However, the molecular toxicology and pathophysiological mechanisms of comorbid AUD and PTSD are not well understood and the identification of the comorbidity state markers is significantly challenging. This review summarizes the main characteristics of comorbidity between AUD and PTSD (AUD/PTSD) and highlights the significance of a comprehensive understanding of the molecular toxicology and pathophysiological mechanisms of AUD/PTSD, particularly following TBI, with a focus on the role of metabolomics, inflammation, neuroendocrine, signal transduction pathways, and genetic regulation. Instead of a separate disease state, a comprehensive examination of comorbid AUD and PTSD is emphasized by considering additive and synergistic interactions between the two diseases. Finally, we propose several hypotheses of molecular mechanisms for AUD/PTSD and discuss potential future research directions that may provide new insights and translational application opportunities.

Published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences

ISSN: 1661-6596 (Print); 1422-0067 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General); Science: Chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords