title: Regulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase by homocysteine in hippocampus.
abstract: In several neurological disorders including hyperhomocysteinemia, homocysteine (Hcy) accumulates in the brain, and acts as a potent neurotoxin. However, the molecular mechanisms induced by increased levels of Hcy in brain are not well understood. Here we show an activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1 and ERK2) and the downstream nuclear targets Elk-1 and calcium/cAMP response element binding protein, in the hippocampus of cystathionine beta synthase deficient mice, a murine model of hyperhomocysteinemia. An ex vivo model of hippocampal slices allowed us to reproduce Hcy -induced ERK activation and to unravel the mechanisms responsible of this activation. Of interest, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA), non-NMDA and metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonists all blocked Hcy -induced ERK activation. Moreover, the ERK activation was blocked in the presence of Na+-channel blocker tetrodotoxin, indicating the existence of a trans-synaptic activity in ERK activation by Hcy in hippocampal slices. The effects of Hcy on ERK cascade activation were also dependent on calcium influx, CaMK-II, PKC as well as PKA activation. Thus, altogether these data support a role of Hcy on ERK activation, via complex mechanisms, starting with a control of glutamate release, which in turn activates ionotropic and metabotropic receptor subtypes and produces increases in intracellular calcium levels.
authors.affiliation: EA 3508, Université Paris 7-Denis Diderot, Case 7104, 2 Place Jussieu, 75251 Paris Cedex, France.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pagès
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ledru
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Delabar
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caboche
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Janel
mesh_terms: D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione / Q000494:pharmacology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005998:Glycine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002614:Chelating Agents; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; C474696:methyl-(4-carboxyphenyl)glycine; D006710:Homocysteine; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D005998:Glycine