A new study describes the existence of a complex built by dopamine and noradrenergic receptors that could be a therapeutic target of potential interest to tackle the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and impulsivity.

The paper, a preclinical study, has been carried out by the Research Group on Molecular Neuropharmacology, under the supervision of the lecturer Vicent Casado, from the Faculty of Biology and the Institute of Biomedicine of the University of Barcelona (IBUB). Other participants are the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of the United States and the Institute of Investigation in Genetic engineering and Molecular Biology in Argentina.

?2AR-D4R complexes: beyond the monomeric model

The type 4 dopamine receptor gene (DRD4) presents different genetic polymorphisms that have been associated in the scientific bibliography with individual differences related to personality traits and neuropsychiatric disorders. The study describes a relation between the expression of the gene that codes the variant of the receptor of D4.7 dopamine and ADHD or the substance use disorders (SUD).

The results reveal an association between the gene encoding the ?2A adrenoceptor and ADHD. Located in the pyramidal neurons of the prefrontal cortex, the ?2A adrenoreceptors (?2AR) are the main pharmacological targets that facilitate the therapeutical effects of psychostimulants -such as methylphenidate or guanfacine- used in the treatment for ADHD.

The paper reveals these receptors are able to associate to form ?2AR-D4R complexes or heteromers. This study hypothesis, confirmed by the results, was based on its association with impulsivity and ADHD, the simultaneous localization in cortical pyramidal neurons and the established ability of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) to form functional heteromers with each other.

Story Source:
Materials provided by University of Barcelona. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.