title: The transcription factor NFAT3 mediates neuronal survival.
abstract: Neuronal apoptosis is critical for normal development of the mammalian nervous system and also contributes to the pathogenesis of ischemic and degenerative diseases of the brain. Apoptosis of neurons is tightly regulated by extrinsic signals including growth factors and neuronal activity, but the intracellular mechanisms by which these signals promote neuronal survival are incompletely understood. We report that the transcription factor NFAT3 plays a critical role in mediating survival of granule neurons of the developing cerebellum. NFAT3 accumulated in the nucleus of primary granule neurons under survival conditions of serum growth factors and neuronal activity that was elicited by depolarization with high K(+). In contrast, deprivation of serum and K(+), which leads to neuronal apoptosis, triggered NFAT3 nuclear export. Treatment of granule neurons with Li(+), an inhibitor of the NFAT export kinase GSK3, prevented the nuclear export of NFAT3 and increased granule cell survival even under pro-apoptotic conditions. Thus, the nuclear localization of NFAT3 correlated tightly with granule neuron survival. Consistent with a pro-survival function for NFAT3, genetic knockdown of NFAT3 by RNA interference in primary granule neurons led to increased apoptosis even in neurons cultured under survival conditions. Conversely, expression of a constitutively active form of NFAT protected neurons against apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal and low K(+). Taken together, these results reveal an essential function for NFAT3-mediated transcription in neuronal survival that may play important roles in the developing and mature brain.
authors.affiliation: Center for Blood Research, Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Alessandra B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Benedito
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lehtinen
authors.forename: Ramiro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Massol
authors.forename: Ulisses Gazos
authors.initials: UG
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kirchhausen
authors.forename: Anjana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Azad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonni
mesh_terms: D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018021:Lithium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D034622:RNA Interference; D051381:Rats; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D018021:Lithium Chloride; D011188:Potassium