Glutamate-dependent transcriptional regulation in bergmann glia cells: involvement of p38 MAP kinase.
Glutamate (Glu) is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the Central Nervous System (CNS). Ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors (GluRs) are present in neurons and glial cells and are involved in gene expression regulation. Mitogen-activated proteins kinases (MAPK) are critical for all the membrane to nuclei signaling pathways described so far. In cerebellar Bergmann glial cells, glutamate-dependent transcriptional regulation is partially dependent on p42/44 MAPK activity. Another member of this kinase family, p38 MAPK is activated by non-mitogenic stimuli through its Thr180/Tyr182 phosphorylation and phosphorylates cytoplasmic and nuclear protein targets involved in translational and transcriptional events. Taking into consideration that the role of p38MAPK in glial cells is not well understood, we demonstrate here that glutamate increases p38 MAPK phosphorylation in a time and dose dependent manner in cultured chick cerebellar Bergmann glial cells (BGC). Moreover, p38 MAPK is involved in the glutamate-induced transcriptional activation in these cells. Ionotropic as well as metabotropic glutamate receptors participate in p38 MAPK activation. The present findings demonstrate the involvement of p38 MAPK in glutamate-dependent gene expression regulation in glial cells.
Zepeda
Rossana C
RC
Departamento de Genética y Biología Molecular, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional (Cinvestav-IPN), Apartado Postal 14-740, Mexico, DF 07000, Mexico.
Barrera
Iliana
I
Castelán
Francisco
F
Soto-Cid
Abraham
A
Hernández-Kelly
Luisa C
LC
López-Bayghen
Esther
E
Ortega
Arturo
A
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D006657:Histones / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*
D006657:Histones; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D004247:DNA; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases