title: Localization of nerve growth factor (NGF) receptors in the mitochondrial compartment: characterization and putative role.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The neurotrophin NGF receptors trkA and p75NTR are expressed in the central and peripheral nervous system as well as in non-neuronal tissues; originally described to localize to the plasma membrane, recent studies have suggested other intracellular localizations for both NGF receptors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to determine whether NGF receptors localize to the mitochondrial compartment mitochondria isolated from human kidney, rat tissues and a human podocyte as cell line before and after differentiation were used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate that NGF receptors are localized in the mitochondrial compartment of undifferentiated human podocytes and in all tissues analyzed including rat central nervous system. In mitochondria p75NTR, but not trkA, co-immunoprecipitates with the adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) and the phosphodiesterase 4 isoform A5 (PDE4A5). Moreover, NGF, via trkA, protects isolated mitochondria of rat brain cortex from mitochondrial permeability transition induced by Ca(2+).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although NGF receptors have been described as mainly citoplasmatic so far, we proved evidence of their expression at the mitochondrial level and their interaction with specific proteins. Our results demonstrating the expression of NGF receptors in the mitochondria provide new insights into the role of NGF at subcellular level, in different areas of the organism, including CNS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaco-Biology, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende (Cosenza), Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carito
authors.forename: Attilio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pingitore
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cione
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Perrotta
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Genchi
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Caroleo
mesh_terms: D033741:Adenine Nucleotide Translocator 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002451:Cell Compartmentation; D002460:Cell Line; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002675:Child, Preschool; D054703:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D047468:Immunoprecipitation; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009928:Organ Specificity; D050199:Podocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D021381:Protein Transport; D051381:Rats; D020917:Receptor, trkA / Q000378:metabolism; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D033741:Adenine Nucleotide Translocator 1; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor; D020917:Receptor, trkA; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D054703:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4; D002118:Calcium