Gene Expression Profiling Reveals Distinct Cocaine-Responsive Genes in Human Fetal CNS Cell Types

Abstract

These data suggest that cocaine causes cytoskeletal abnormalities leading to disturbances in neural differentiation and migration in progenitor cells, while altering immune and apoptotic responses in glia. Understanding the mechanisms of cocaine's effects on human CNS cells may help in the development of therapeutic strategies to prevent or ameliorate cocaine-induced impairments in fetal brain development.