Wide release: February 19, 2026. Not medical advice.
TOPICS DISCUSSED:
Gene regulation basics: DNA transcribes to RNAs, including non-coding types like microRNAs that inhibit mRNA translation into proteins, influencing up to 60% of the proteome.
Non-coding RNAs in neuroplasticity: MicroRNAs and circular RNAs regulate synaptic changes, with activity-induced ones like miR-485-5p linked to rapid responses in drug cue memory and addiction reinforcement.
Opioid addiction models: Rats self-administer heroin or fentanyl via levers, showing compulsive seeking; fentanyl’s higher potency drives faster learning but similar long-term effects to heroin when doses are equated.
Differences between opioids: Heroin and fentanyl both activate mu-opioid receptors for euphoria and dopamine release, but fentanyl lingers longer; no major behavioral differences in seeking once potency is matched.
Psilocybin’s effects on addiction: A single psilocybin dose post-abstinence reduces heroin-seeking in rats by dampening neuroinflammation in brain regions like the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex.
Brain Inflammation: Opioids induce pro-inflammatory changes via cytokines like IL-17A and pathways like TNF-alpha, leading to glial activation and blood-brain barrier leaks; psilocybin counters this.
MicroRNA biomarkers: Blood microRNAs reflect gene expression patterns tied to disease states, with potential to predict opioid relapse risk, treatment response, or neonatal withdrawal severity non-invasively.
Future research: Ongoing work links psilocybin’s serotonin 2A activation to anti-inflammatory gene changes, plus human studies on microRNAs for personalized addiction treatments.
ABOUT THE GUEST: Stephanie Daws, PhD is an associate professor at Temple University in the Center for Substance Abuse Research and Department of Neurosciences, where she researches mechanisms of drug-seeking behavior with a focus on opioids and psychedelics.
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PRACTICAL TAKEAWAYS:
For those in recovery, discuss medication options like buprenorphine or methadone with providers, as individual responses vary and biomarkers may one day guide choices.
Be aware of fentanyl’s extreme potency in street drugs, which heightens overdose risk.
Explore emerging psychedelic therapies under medical supervision, as psilocybin shows promise in reducing drug cravings via plasticity and inflammation modulation.
SUBSCRIBER CONTENT BELOW: Reference paper + episode transcript.
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