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New addiction discovery could shed light on smoking cessation

Respiratory Care Weekly, February 22, 2006

Canadian researchers developed a chemical peptide that may block a brain enzyme that causes drug addictions, according to the March Nature Medicine. Eventually this discovery could treat addictions to many different drugs, including the nicotine in cigarettes.

Researchers said that a brain molecule, called PTEN, interacts with receptors that excite dopamine neurons, which signals pleasure. The peptide, called Tat-3L4F, interrupted that interaction and stopped rats used in the study from being addicted to nicotine and marijuana.

Though the findings are useful, researchers say that much work needs to be done before a treatment could be developed to help drug addicts. Scientists will conduct more studies to find out if the synthetic peptide used in rats is safe or effective for humans. 

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