What are the common mutation types on CTNNB1 gene in human HCC patients?5 answersMutations in the CTNNB1 gene are prevalent in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The most common mutation type identified is the CTNNB1 mutation, which is the second most frequent mutation after TP53 in HCC cases. These mutations lead to the activation of β-catenin, playing a crucial role in the initiation and progression of HCC. The CTNNB1 mutations have been associated with alterations in the Wnt signaling pathway, affecting drug sensitivity and immune responses in HCC patients. Additionally, studies have shown that CTNNB1 mutations can be detected in tumor tissues as well as in cell-free DNA extracted from urine samples of HCC patients, providing a non-invasive method for mutation detection and monitoring. The presence of CTNNB1 mutations in combination with immune cell profiles can influence patient survival and recurrence rates in HCC.
What is the role of dopamine in the brain?4 answersDopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in various cognitive and emotional processes in the brain. It is involved in regulating pleasure and reward circuits, motivation, motor control, functional ability, perception, sexual satisfaction, lactation prevention, and nausea. Dopamine acts as a neuromodulator in the central nervous system (CNS) and influences diverse functions such as movement control and reward-seeking behavior. It also has paracrine or autocrine functions outside of the brain, affecting processes like bicarbonate secretion, gut motility, sodium transport, and sodium excretion. Dysfunction in dopaminergic transmission is associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders such as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and addiction. Dopamine is also involved in learning and memory processes, with fluctuations in dopamine levels being linked to deficits in these cognitive functions in diseases like Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease.
How does dopamine affect behavior?4 answersDopamine affects behavior by playing a role in learning, motivation, decision-making, and reward processing. It is involved in the formation of learned seeking and avoidance behaviors, as well as the establishment of the ability to search and avoid. Dopamine also mediates motivational arousal, increasing during need states and influencing an animal's responsiveness to predictive stimuli. In adolescence, dopamine is linked to increased risk-taking behavior, but it is more strongly associated with learning, adaptive decision-making, and motivation to work for rewards. Changes in the dopaminergic system contribute to the maturation of cognitive control abilities. Additionally, dopamine interacts with other neuromodulator systems, which also change during adolescence, and these interactions need to be considered for a full understanding of adolescent behavior. Dysfunction in dopamine can lead to various psychiatric disorders, and understanding its role in these illnesses can aid in the development of more effective treatments.
How dopamine signal is related to thalamus?5 answersDopamine signaling is related to the thalamus in several ways. Firstly, it has been shown that the thalamus receives dopaminergic innervation in both humans and macaque monkeys, with high densities of dopaminergic axons found in specific thalamic nuclei. This suggests that dopamine plays a role in modulating thalamic relay function. Additionally, the thalamic dopaminergic system in primates is more developed compared to rodents, with a larger extent and density of dopamine transporter-immunoreactive axons in the primate thalamus. Furthermore, the lateral thalamus has been implicated in decisional impulsivity, and dopamine D1 and D2 receptors in the lateral thalamus have distinct effects on impulsive behaviors in rats. Finally, dopamine has been shown to modulate the efficiency of corticostriatal inputs, which can influence the strength of signals in the cortex-basal ganglia-thalamus-cortex neural network. Overall, these findings highlight the important role of dopamine in thalamic function and its potential implications for higher brain functions and neurological disorders.
How does Spike proteins interact with dopamine?2 answersSpike proteins interact with dopamine through dopamine type-2 receptors (D2R) located presynaptically in cortical terminals. Dopamine controls spike-timing-dependent long-term potentiation (tLTP) mediated by endocannabinoids (eCBs) in the striatum, a key substrate for action selection and procedural learning. In the nucleus accumbens, dopamine-induced enhancement of spike firing in neurons requires both D1 and D2 receptors. Activation of specific subtypes of adenylyl cyclases by G-protein betagamma subunits (Gbetagamma) released from the D2 receptor, in combination with Galpha(s)-like subunits from the D1 receptor, may underlie the cooperative effect of D1 and D2 receptors. The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, can modulate microglial purinergic signaling by inducing ATP secretion and upregulating purinergic receptors in microglial cells.
How does dorsal striatal dopamine 1 receptor (D1R) interact with other neurotransmitter systems to modulate human behavior?2 answersDorsal striatal dopamine 1 receptor (D1R) interacts with other neurotransmitter systems to modulate human behavior. The mesolimbic dopamine system, including the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and prefrontal cortex (PFC), plays a role in motivated behavior and interval timing. The D1R within the dorsal striatum is required for motivation to respond, but not for modulation of the internal clock speed. Additionally, dopamine receptor signaling, specifically the dopamine D1 receptor (Drd1a), is involved in the sensitization of responses to dopamine agonists in the dorsal striatum. The striatum and dopamine signaling system, particularly medium spiny neurons (MSNs) expressing D2 receptors (D2Rs), are involved in regulating motivated behavior. Furthermore, serotonin receptor-mediated modulation of dopamine transmission in the striatum has been explored as a potential approach to improve motivation. These findings suggest that D1R in the dorsal striatum interacts with other neurotransmitter systems, such as the mesolimbic dopamine system and serotonin receptors, to modulate human behavior.