This review summarizes the evidence for the potential involvement of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) in the development of nicotine addiction. Nicotine is consumed worldwide and is highly addictive. Previous research has extensively investigated the role of dopamine in association with reward learning and addiction, which has provided strong evidence for the involvement of dopaminergic neuronal circuitry in nicotine addiction. More recently, researchers focused on glutamatergic transmission after nicotine abuse, and its involvement in the reinforcing and rewarding effects of nicotine addiction. A number of robust preclinical and clinical studies have shown mGluR5 signaling as a facilitating mechanism of nicotine addiction and nicotine withdrawal. Specifically, clinical studies have illustrated lower cortical mGluR5 density in smokers compared to nonsmokers in the human brain. In addition, mGluR5 might selectively regulate craving and withdrawal. This suggests that mGluR5 could be a key receptor in the development of nicotine addiction and therefore clinical trials to examine the therapeutic potential of mGluR5 agents could help to contribute to reduce nicotine addiction in society.

中文翻译：

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代谢型谷氨酸受体 5 在尼古丁成瘾中的作用

本综述总结了代谢型谷氨酸受体 5 (mGluR5) 可能参与尼古丁成瘾发展的证据。尼古丁在世界范围内被消费并且很容易上瘾。先前的研究已经广泛调查了多巴胺与奖励学习和成瘾相关的作用，这为多巴胺能神经元回路参与尼古丁成瘾提供了有力的证据。最近，研究人员专注于尼古丁滥用后的谷氨酸能传递，以及它参与尼古丁成瘾的强化和奖励作用。许多强有力的临床前和临床研究表明，mGluR5 信号传导是尼古丁成瘾和尼古丁戒断的促进机制。具体来说，临床研究表明，与人类大脑中的非吸烟者相比，吸烟者的皮质 mGluR5 密度较低。此外，mGluR5 可能选择性地调节渴望和戒断。这表明 mGluR5 可能是尼古丁成瘾发展的关键受体，因此检验 mGluR5 药物治疗潜力的临床试验可能有助于减少社会中的尼古丁成瘾。