The phenotypic differentiation of locus ceruleus noradrenergic neurons mediated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor is enhanced by corticotropin releasing factor through the activation of a cAMP-dependent signaling pathway.
We have developed a model system of locus ceruleus (LC) neurons in culture, in which brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) induces the emergence of noradrenergic neurons attested by the presence of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and the absence of phenylethanolamine N-methyl-transferase. Although inactive in itself, the neuropeptide corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) strongly amplified the effect of BDNF, increasing the number of cells expressing TH and the active accumulation of noradrenaline by a factor of 2 to 3 via a mechanism that was nonmitogenic. CRF also acted cooperatively with neurotrophin-4, which like BDNF is a selective ligand of the TrkB tyrosine kinase receptor. The effect of CRF but not that of BDNF was prevented by astressin, a nonselective CRF-1/CRF-2 receptor antagonist. However, only CRF-1 receptor transcripts were detectable in LC cultures, suggesting that this receptor subtype mediated the effect of CRF. Consistent with the positive coupling of CRF-1 receptors to adenylate cyclase, the trophic action of CRF was mimicked by cAMP elevating agents. Epac, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor directly activated by cAMP, contributed to the effect of CRF through the stimulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) 1/2. However, downstream of ERK1/2 activation by CRF, the phenotypic induction of noradrenergic neurons relied upon the stimulation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt transduction pathway by BDNF. Together, our results suggest that CRF participates to the phenotypic differentiation of LC noradrenergic neurons during development. Whether similar mechanisms account for the high degree of plasticity of these neurons in the adult brain remains to be established.
Traver
Sabine
S
Unité Mixte de Recherche 679, INSERM-UPMC Bâtiment Pharmacie, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, 47 bd de l'Hôpital, 75013, Paris, France.
Marien
Marc
M
Martin
Elodie
E
Hirsch
Etienne C
EC
Michel
Patrick P
PP
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D008125:Locus Coeruleus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism; D050484:Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020813:Receptor, trkB / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D050484:Norepinephrine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D020813:Receptor, trkB; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D009638:Norepinephrine