Neuroimmune Signaling as a Mediator of Opioid Seeking Behavior From Adolescence Through Adulthood

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a public health crisis that leads to extensive morbidity and mortality. While there are current treatments for OUD, they are ineffective or intolerable for many. The need for alternative avenues for development of treatment targets is great. Signaling from the gut microbiome and immune system have emerged as important mediators of brain and behavior in models of OUD. Here, we investigate the role of gut-immune-brain signaling as a driver of opioid taking and seeking as well as transcriptional plasticity in the brain.