title: Progesterone potentiates calcium release through IP3 receptors by an Akt-mediated mechanism in hippocampal neurons.
abstract: Progesterone (P4) is a steroid hormone that plays multiple roles in the central nervous system (CNS) including promoting neuroprotection. However, the precise mechanisms involved in its neuroprotective effects are still unknown. Given that the regulation of the intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) concentration is critical for cell survival, we determined if inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate receptors (IP(3)Rs) are relevant targets of P4. Using primary hippocampal neurons, we tested the hypothesis that P4 controls the gain of IP3R-mediated intracellular Ca(2+) signaling in neurons and characterized the subcellular distribution and phosphorylation of potential signaling intermediates involved in P4s actions. Our results reveal that P4 treatment altered the intensity and distribution of IP3R immunoreactivity and induced the nuclear translocation of phosphorylated Akt. Further, P4 potentiated IP(3)R-mediated intracellular Ca(2+) responses. These results suggest a potential involvement of P4 in particular and of steroid hormone signaling pathways in general in the control of intracellular Ca(2+) signaling and its related functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76107-2699, USA.
authors.forename: Ji-yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: R Scott
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Madry
authors.forename: Meharvan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Koulen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003600:Cytosol / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology*; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053496:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptors; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D011374:Progesterone; D015544:Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D002118:Calcium