title: Transforming growth factor-beta2 modulates synaptic efficacy and plasticity and induces phosphorylation of CREB in hippocampal neurons.
abstract: Transforming growth factor-betas (TGF-betas) are widely expressed and play roles as multifunctional growth factors and regulators of key events in development, disease, and repair. However, it is not known whether TGF-betas affect the plasticity of hippocampal neurons. As a first step to address this issue, we examined whether TGF-beta2 modulated the electrophysiological and biochemical properties of cultured hippocampal neurons. We found that prolonged 24 h treatment with TGF-beta2 induced facilitation of evoked postsynaptic currents (ePSCs). This facilitation was associated with a decrease in short-term synaptic depression of ePSCs and increases in both the amplitude and frequency of spontaneous miniature postsynaptic currents (mPSCs). The long-term changes of ePSCs and mPSCs may be associated with cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), which has been previously implicated in long-term potentiation. Immunofluorescence techniques and Western blot analysis both revealed that TGF-beta2 enhanced the phosphorylation of CREB. Together, these results suggest that TGF-beta2 may play a role in the cascade of events underlying long-term synaptic facilitation in hippocampus, and that CREB may be an important mediator of these effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, W.M. Keck Center for the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Teruyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Rong-Yu
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Byrne
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2 / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D053781:Transforming Growth Factor beta2; D050882:CREB-Binding Protein