title: D1 dopamine receptor activation of NFAT-mediated striatal gene expression.
abstract: Exposure to drugs of abuse activates gene expression and protein synthesis that result in long-lasting adaptations in striatal signaling. Therefore, identification of the transcription factors that couple drug exposure to gene expression is of particular importance. Members of the nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATc) family of transcription factors have recently been implicated in shaping neuronal function throughout the rodent nervous system. Here we demonstrate that regulation of NFAT-mediated gene expression may also be a factor in drug-induced changes to striatal functioning. In cultured rat striatal neurons, stimulation of D1 dopamine receptors induces NFAT-dependent transcription through activation of L-type calcium channels. Additionally, the genes encoding inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1 and glutamate receptor subunit 2 are regulated by striatal NFATc4 activity. Consistent with these in-vitro data, repeated exposure to cocaine triggers striatal NFATc4 nuclear translocation and the up-regulation of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1 and glutamate receptor subunit 2 gene expression in vivo, suggesting that cocaine-induced increases in gene expression may be partially mediated through activation of NFAT-dependent transcription. Collectively, these findings reveal a novel molecular pathway that may contribute to the enduring modifications in striatal functioning that occur following the administration of drugs of abuse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, 6-145 Jackson Hall, 321 Church Street, S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Rachel D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Groth
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Weick
authors.forename: Katherine C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.forename: Jessie I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Luoma
authors.forename: Bharathi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aravamudan
authors.forename: Jason R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Klug
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Paul G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Mermelstein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D047369:Chromatin Immunoprecipitation / Q000379:methods; D003042:Cocaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay / Q000379:methods; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000378:metabolism; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000502:physiology*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D018765:Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors; D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D018350:alpha-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic Acid; D003042:Cocaine; C104722:glutamate receptor ionotropic, AMPA 2