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Activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors reduces the production of transforming growth factor‐ß2 by developing neurons
Author(s) -
Dobbertin Alexandre,
Gervais Annie,
Glowinski Jacques,
Mallat Michel
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
european journal of neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.346
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1460-9568
pISSN - 0953-816X
DOI - 10.1046/j.0953-816x.2000.01354.x
Subject(s) - kainate receptor , ampa receptor , glutamate receptor , nmda receptor , long term depression , ionotropic effect , kainic acid , receptor , excitatory postsynaptic potential , neuroscience , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , transforming growth factor , stimulation , biochemistry
Neuronal cultures derived from developing rat cerebral cortex were used to investigate the influence of glutamate receptors on the neuronal production of transforming growth factor‐ß2 (TGFß2), a multifunctional cytokine that modulates neuronal and glial growth. Long‐term exposure (48 h) of cortical neurons to selective antagonists of N ‐methyl‐ d ‐aspartate (NMDA) and α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)/kainate receptors markedly increased TGFß2 levels in the culture medium. Conversely, treatment with NMDA or kainate reduced TGFß2 to levels below those in untreated cultures. The effect of kainate did not require NMDA receptor activity. Neuronal depolarization with K + also reduced TGFß2 levels by opening voltage‐gated L‐type Ca 2+ channels. Semi‐quantitative RT–PCR measurements of neuronal TGFß2 mRNA showed that NMDA or AMPA/kainate receptor stimulation reduced TGFß2 mRNA levels. These results demonstrate that tonic activation of glutamate‐gated cation channels downregulates neuronal expression of the TGFß2 gene and provide evidence for a novel mechanism whereby excitatory amino acids could influence the development of glial and neuronal lineages.