In the present study, we investigated signaling molecules directly associated with MOR function and downstream transcription factors in the striatum, a central structure involved in mediating goal-directed behavior, habit formation and reward.(23–25) We report dysregulation of striatal MOR and ERK signaling pathways in human heroin abusers and identify ELK1 as a key transcriptional regulator for differentially expressed genes in the striatum of heroin abusers and in association with OPRM1 variants. These findings highlight ELK1 as a potentially new molecular target in the cellular dysregulation of opioid addiction.
