Urine Proteomics in Methamphetamine Addicted Patients

ABSTRACT Drug addiction is a serious chronic relapsing brain disease, and methamphetamine dependence has a complex course and is difficult to treat, causing a serious public health burden. In this study, we compared and analyzed the urine proteome of methamphetamine-using patients, methamphetamine-withdrawing patients, healthy individuals. The urine proteome of methamphetamine-using patients and methamphetamine-withdrawing patients was significantly different from that of healthy individuals, and some differential proteins and their enriched biological functions showed that they were associated with addiction or neurotoxicity of methamphetamine. The fact, that the urine proteome of patients who withdrew methamphetamine for more than 3 months were significantly different from that of healthy patients, may reveal the reasons for the high rate of methamphetamine relapse and potential intervention targets. This study proved that urine proteome can reflect the effects of addiction on the body comprehensively, and has the potential to provide clues for addiction.