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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2020 May 21.
Published in final edited form as: J Drug Alcohol Res. 2019 Oct 18;2019:236084.

Table 5:

Genes reported related to opioid dependence.

Gene symbol Finding Citations
ABAT, ALDH5A1 Valproic acid, an inhibitor of the ABAT protein and ALDH5A1 protein, is in Phase IV to treat opiate dependence [93]
ADRA1A, ADRA1B, ADRA1D, ADRA2A, ADRA2B, ADRA2C Paliperidone, an antagonist of ADRA1A, ADRA1B, ADRA1D, ADRA2A, ADRA2B, and ADRA2C proteins, is in Phase III to treat heroin dependence [132]
CACNA2D1, CACNA2D2 Gabapentin, an inhibitor of human CACNA2D1 and CACNA2D2 proteins, is in Phase IV as a treatment for opioid dependence [133]
DRD2 Buspirone, an agonist of human DRD2 protein, is in Phase IV as a treatment for heroin dependence [103]
DRD2, DRD3, DRD4 Paliperidone, an antagonist of human DRD2, DRD3, and DRD4 proteins, is in Phase III as a treatment for heroin dependence [132]
GABRA1, GABRA3, GABRA4, GABRA5, GABRA6, GABRB1, GABRB2, GABRE, GABRG1, GABRG2, GABRG3, GABRP Isoniazid, an inhibitor of human GABRA1, GABRA3, GABRA4, GABRA5, GABRA6, GABRB1, GABRB2, GABRE, GABRG1, GABRG2, GABRG3, and GABRP proteins, is in Phase IV in combination with naltrexone as a treatment for opioid dependence [134135]
GABRB3 Isoniazid, an inhibitor of human GABRB3 protein, is in Phase IV in combination with naltrexone as a treatment for opioid dependence [134135]
Mutant human GABRB3 (SNP substitution [rs7165224]) is associated with heroin addiction in humans (p=0.01). [136]
GAD2 Valproic acid, an inhibitor of human GAD2 protein, is in Phase IV in combination with buprenorphine as a treatment for opiate dependence [89]
GRIN1, GRIN2B, GRIN2A, GRIN2C, GRIN2D, GRIN3A, GRIN3B Ketamine, an antagonist of human GRIN1, GRIN2B, GRIN2A, GRIN2C, GRIN2D, GRIN3A, and GRIN3B proteins, is in Phase IV as a treatment for opiate dependence [137]
Memantine, an antagonist of human GRIN1, GRIN2A, GRIN2B, GRIN2C, GRIN2D, GRIN3A, and GRIN3B proteins, is in Phase II/III as a treatment for opioid dependence [138]
Memantine, an antagonist of human GRIN1, GRIN2A, GRIN2B, GRIN2C, GRIN2D, GRIN3A, and GRIN3B proteins, is being tested in combination with Vivitrol [naltrexone] as a treatment for opioid dependence [139]
GRIN3A, HTR3A Methadone, an antagonist of human GRIN3A and HTR3A proteins and mu-opioid receptor, has been approved as a treatment for opioid dependence [140]
HRH1 Mirtazapine, a blocker of human HRH1, HTR2A, HTR2B, and HTR2C proteins, is in Phase III as a treatment for heroin dependence [141]
Paliperidone, an antagonist of human HRH1, HTR2A, and HTR2C proteins, is in Phase III as a treatment for heroin dependence [142]
HTR1A Buspirone, an agonist of human HTR1A proteins, is in Phase IV as a treatment for heroin dependence [103]
HTR2A, HTR2C Mirtazapine, a blocker of human HRH1, HTR2, HTR2A, HTR2B, and HTR2C proteins, is in Phase III as a treatment for heroin dependence [141]
Paliperidone, an antagonist of human HRH1, HTR2A, and HTR2C proteins, is in Phase III as a treatment for heroin dependence [142]
Buspirone, an agonist of human HTR1A, HTR2A, HTR2B, and HTR2C proteins, is in Phase IV as a treatment for heroin dependence [103]
HTR2B, Mirtazapine, a blocker of human HRH1, HTR2, HTR2A, HTR2B, and HTR2C proteins, is in Phase III as a treatment for heroin dependence [141]
Buspirone, an agonist of human HTR1A, HTR2A, HTR2B, and HTR2C proteins, is in Phase IV as a treatment for heroin dependence [103]
OPRM1 Mutant human OPRM1 (c.118A>G [germline] (rs1799971)) is observed to carry susceptibility to opioid dependence type 1 in humans [55]
Naloxone, an antagonist of human OPRM1 protein, has been approved in the combination Cassipa [buprenorphine/naloxone] (maintenance) as a treatment for opioid dependence
Naltrexone, an antagonist of human OPRM1 protein, is in Phase IV as a treatment for opioid dependence [56, 143]
Buprenorphine, antagonist of OPRM1 protein, and naloxone in combination are in Phase IV as a treatment for opioid dependence. [144]
Hydromorphone, an agonist of human OPRM1 protein, is in Phase III as a component of a treatment for opioid dependence [145146]
Buprenorphine, an antagonist of OPRM1 protein, and naloxone in combination are in Phase III as a treatment for heroin dependence [147155]
OPRD1, OPRK1 Naloxone, an antagonist of human OPRD1 and OPRK1 proteins, has been approved as a part of the combination drug Cassipa [buprenorphine/naloxone] (maintenance) as a treatment for opioid dependence [147]
Naltrexone, an antagonist of human OPRD1 and OPRK1 proteins, is in Phase IV as a treatment for opioid dependence [56, 143]
Buprenorphine, an agonist of human OPRD1 and antagonist of OPRK1 proteins, and naloxone in combination are in Phase IV as a treatment for opioid dependence [144]
Hydromorphone, an agonist of human OPRD1 and OPRK1 proteins, is in Phase III as a component of a treatment for opioid dependence [145146]
Buprenorphine, agonist of human OPRD1 and antagonist of OPRK1 protein, and naloxone and a combination are in Phase III as a treatment for heroin dependence [147155]
SIGMAR1 Naloxone, an antagonist of human SIGMAR1 protein, has been approved as a part of the combination drug Cassipa [buprenorphine/naloxone] (maintenance) as a treatment for opioid dependence [147]
Naltrexone, an antagonist of human SIGMAR1 protein, is in Phase IV as a treatment for opioid dependence [56, 143]
Hydromorphone, an agonist of human SIGMAR1 protein, is in Phase III as a component of a treatment for opioid dependence [145146]
SLC6A2, SLC6A3, SLC6A4 Bupropion, an inhibitor of human SLC6A2, SLC6A3, and SLC6A4 proteins, is in Phase III as a component of a treatment for opioid dependence [156]