There is increasing evidence that the environment modifies individual
genotypes through epigenetic mechanisms, creating behavioral traits and leaving
persistent memories of past events. In post-mitotic cells such as neurons, chromatin
modifications provide not only transient but also stable (or even permanent) epigenetic
marks. These could promote, maintain or block transcriptional processes that, in turn,
participate in the molecular adaptations underlying behavioral changes. Accordingly,
epigenetics has become a central topic in several domains of neuroscience, including
neurobiological approaches to drug addiction. In this chapter we summarize current
evidence for the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms in the promotion of drug
consumption and addictive behavior. We also suggest how the same epigenetic
mechanisms could be used to improve the clinical management of these disorders.
Keywords: Addiction, epigenetics, histone posttranslational modifications, DNA
methylation, therapeutics.
