title: Glutamate activates NF-kappaB through calpain in neurons.
abstract: Glutamate induces gene transcription in numerous physiological and pathological conditions. Among the glutamate-responsive transcription factors, NF-kappaB has been mainly implicated in neuronal survival and death. Recent data also suggest a role of NF-kappaB in neural development and memory formation. In non-neuronal cells, degradation of the inhibitor IkappaBalpha represents a key step in NF-kappaB activation. However, little is known of how glutamate activates NF-kappaB in neurons. To investigate the signalling cascade involved we used primary murine cerebellar granule cells. Glutamate induced a rapid reduction of IkappaBalpha levels and nuclear translocation of the NF-kappaB subunit p65. The glutamate-induced reduction of IkappaBalpha levels was blocked by the N-methyl-d-aspartate inhibitor MK801. Specific inhibitors of the proteasome, caspase 3, and the phosphoinositide 3-kinase had no effect on glutamate-induced IkappaBalpha degradation. However, inhibition of the glutamate-activated Ca2+-dependent protease calpain by calpeptin completely blocked IkappaBalpha degradation and reduced the nuclear translocation of p65. Calpeptin also partially blocked glutamate-induced cell death. Our data indicate that the Ca2+-dependent protease calpain is involved in the NF-kappaB activation in neurons in response to N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor occupancy by glutamate. NF-kappaB activation by calpain may mediate the long-term effects of glutamate on neuron survival or memory formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Marion N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Schölzke
authors.forename: Ioana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Potrovita
authors.forename: Srinivasa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Subramaniam
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prinz
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schwaninger
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002154:Calpain / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002525:Cerebellar Cortex / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004151:Dipeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004151:Dipeptides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; C000606205:Nfkbia protein, mouse; D021122:Protein Subunits; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; C071482:calpeptin; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D002154:Calpain