title: Calcium mediated excitotoxicity in neurofilament aggregate-bearing neurons in vitro is NMDA receptor dependant.
abstract: We have previously shown that the co-localization of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) with neurofilament (NF) aggregates in motor neurons derived from transgenic mice over-expressing the human low molecular weight NF protein (hNFL+/+) is associated with a deregulation of calcium influx via the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, resulting in apoptosis. Because the absence of the GluR2 subunit of the alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor confers calcium permeability and has been implicated in the process of excitotoxicity in ALS, we have examined the role of the AMPA receptor in this model. GluR2 protein expression and mRNA were examined in hNFL+/+ and wild-type motor neurons (wt). Live cell calcium imaging was performed using Oregon-Green Bapta and Fura-2 calcium dyes. For apoptotic studies, neurons were treated with glutamate, with or without glutamate receptor antagonists [6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2, 3-dione (CNQX) or (+)-5-methyl-10, 11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine maleate (MK-801)] and examined for active caspase-3 or phospholipid inversion. We observed that although both GluR2 mRNA and protein levels were decreased in hNFL+/+ motor neurons compared to wt, there was no appreciable calcium influx via the AMPA receptor. These studies demonstrate that calcium mediated excitotoxicity in NF aggregate-bearing neurons is NMDA receptor dependant.
authors: Department of Pathology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Sanelli
authors: Weiwen
authors: W
authors: Ge
authors: Cheryl
authors: C
authors: Leystra-Lantz
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Strong
mesh_terms: D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; C044882:neurofilament protein L; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; C104722:glutamate receptor ionotropic, AMPA 2; D002118:Calcium