FIGURE 3.

The interactions between miR-212, CREB, methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2), and BDNF. Cocaine activates CREB-miR-212 and MeCP2-BDNF signaling and the balance between these pathways likely regulates escalation of cocaine intake (‘loss of control’). The orange circle illustrates CREB signaling, which protects against the development of escalating cocaine intake, whereas the green circle shows that MeCP2-BDNF signaling promotes escalation of intake. Green arrows indicate a stimulatory relationship, whereas red lines indicate an inhibitory relationship. Figure and legend were taken from Jonkman and Kenny (2013).