title: Human neuroepithelial cells express NMDA receptors.
abstract: L-glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter, binds to both ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors. In certain parts of the brain the BBB contains two normally impermeable barriers: 1) cerebral endothelial barrier and 2) cerebral epithelial barrier. Human cerebral endothelial cells express NMDA receptors; however, to date, human cerebral epithelial cells (neuroepithelial cells) have not been shown to express NMDA receptor message or protein. In this study, human hypothalamic sections were examined for NMDA receptors (NMDAR) expression via immunohistochemistry and murine neuroepithelial cell line (V1) were examined for NMDAR via RT-PCR and Western analysis. We found that human cerebral epithelium express protein and cultured mouse neuroepithelial cells express both mRNA and protein for the NMDA receptor. These findings may have important consequences for neuroepithelial responses during excitotoxicity and in disease.
authors: Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA, USA. csharp@lsuhsc.edu
authors: Christopher D
authors: CD
authors: Sharp
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Fowler
authors: T H
authors: TH
authors: Jackson
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Houghton
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Warren
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Nanda
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Chandler
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Cappell
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Long
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Minagar
authors: J S
authors: JS
authors: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; C121001:NR2B NMDA receptor