title: Restored plasticity in a mouse model of neurofibromatosis type 1 via inhibition of hyperactive ERK and CREB.
abstract: Patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), resulting from neurofibromin gene mutations, frequently suffer from deficits in learning and spatial memory. Mice heterozygous for functional deletion of the NF1 gene (NF1(+/-) mice) also exhibit compromised spatial learning, and deficits in early-stage hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP). Neurofibromin is a multifunctional protein which acts in part as an inhibitory constraint on Ras signalling, and the deficits in early-stage LTP and spatial learning have been linked to Ras hyperactivation. However, the downstream targets of Ras hyperactivation that lead to cognitive disruption are unknown. The levels of activity of signalling molecules potentially downstream of Ras were therefore studied in NF1(+/-) mice. Elevated phospho-ERK (pERK) levels were observed in the hippocampi from NF1(+/-) mice, while phospho-Akt/PKB (pAkt) and phospho-eIF4E (peIF4E) levels were unchanged relative to wild-type mice. Hippocampal levels of phospho-CREB (pCREB) were also increased, suggesting potential changes in late-phase LTP in NF1(+/-) mice. Indeed, LTP was found to be impaired for at least 4 h following induction in NF1(+/-) mice, linking neurofibromin function with the long-term maintenance of LTP. Remarkably, U0126, an inhibitor of ERK activation, at doses which reduced the hyperactive pERK levels in NF1(+/-) mice to the levels observed in control mice, caused a reduction in the deficits in early-phase LTP and completely rescued the long-term LTP deficits. In contrast to the abundant evidence that reductions in ERK activity lead to impaired plasticity, these data indicate that ERK hyperactivation in a partial model of type 1 neurofibromatosis leads to deficits in long-lasting hippocampal plasticity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, West Medical Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK. Clare.Guilding@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guilding
authors.forename: Kara
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McNair
authors.forename: Trevor W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Morris
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002070:Butadienes / Q000494:pharmacology; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009570:Nitriles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002070:Butadienes; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009570:Nitriles; C113580:U 0126; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases