Involvement of Satb2 in cocaine relapse

Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. In our brain cells called neurons, the tight or loose packaging of the genes in the chromatin (DNA plus specific proteins) can control whether the genes can be expressed to form their encoded product. SATB2 is a DNA binding protein that regulates gene expression through chromatin remodelling. The aim of this project is to investigate the role of this protein (SATB2) in the relapse to cocaine seeking. We speak about relapse when the individual returns to drug use after a period of abstinence. Drug relapse prevention is an essential part of the recovery process because people remain at increased risk for many years. We will focus on a special region in the brain called the paraventricular thalamus (PVT) that is receiving loads of importance during the last years in the regulation of reward. In order to study the role of SATB2 in the PVT, we will delete the expression of SATB2 specifially from this region or, in another set of experiments, inhibit specifically the cells that express SATB2 in this region, then study the subsequent effect on the relapse of cocaine seeking. To our knowledge, this project will be the first assessing the functional role of Satb2 in drug addiction. Proving that SATB2 in the PVT is necessary to the relapse of cocaine seeking may lead to the identification of a new target for the development of new medications for the treatment of drug addiction relapse and other psychiatric diseases.