Researchers from Vanderbilt University Detail New Studies and Findings in the Area of Gene Therapy (Arrestin-3-assisted Activation of Jnk3 Mediates Dopaminergic Behavioral Sensitization).

Researchers from Vanderbilt University have conducted a study on the role of arrestin-3 in dopamine-related behavioral sensitization. The study found that chronic treatment with the dopamine precursor L-DOPA induces an increase in behavioral responses, but this sensitization is blunted in mice lacking arrestin-3. The researchers used virus-mediated gene delivery to restore arrestin-3 in the dopamine-depleted striatum of these mice and found that it fully rescues behavioral sensitization. The study concludes that arrestin-3-assisted activation of Jnk3 in direct pathway neurons is a critical element in the molecular mechanism underlying sensitization upon dopamine depletion and chronic L-DOPA treatment. [Extracted from the article]