title: Leptin-induced spine formation requires TrpC channels and the CaM kinase cascade in the hippocampus.
abstract: Leptin is a critical neurotrophic factor for the development of neuronal pathways and synaptogenesis in the hypothalamus. Leptin receptors are also found in other brain regions, including the hippocampus, and a postnatal surge in leptin correlates with a time of rapid growth of dendritic spines and synapses in the hippocampus. Leptin is critical for normal hippocampal dendritic spine formation as db/db mice, which lack normal leptin receptor signaling, have a reduced number of dendritic spines in vivo. Leptin also positively influences hippocampal behaviors, such as cognition, anxiety, and depression, which are critically dependent on dendritic spine number. What is not known are the signaling mechanisms by which leptin initiates spine formation. Here we show leptin induces the formation of dendritic protrusions (thin headless, stubby and mushroom shaped spines), through trafficking and activation of TrpC channels in cultured hippocampal neurons. Leptin-activation of the TrpC current is dose dependent and blocked by targeted knockdown of the leptin receptor. The nonselective TrpC channel inhibitors SKF96365 and 2-APB or targeted knockdown of TrpC1 or 3, but not TrpC5, channels also eliminate the leptin-induced current. Leptin stimulates the phosphorylation of CaMKIγ and β-Pix within 5 min and their activation is required for leptin-induced trafficking of TrpC1 subunits to the membrane. Furthermore, we show that CaMKIγ, CaMKK, β-Pix, Rac1, and TrpC1/3 channels are all required for both the leptin-sensitive current and leptin-induced spine formation. These results elucidate a critical pathway underlying leptin's induction of dendritic morphological changes that initiate spine and excitatory synapse formation.
authors: Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, and Program in Neuroscience, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, and.
authors: Matasha
authors: M
authors: Dhar
authors: Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, and Program in Neuroscience, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, and waymang@vetmed.wsu.edu appleyas@vetmed.wsu.edu.
authors: Gary A
authors: GA
authors: Wayman
authors: Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, and Program in Neuroscience, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, and.
authors: Mingyan
authors: M
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, and Program in Neuroscience, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, and.
authors: Talley J
authors: TJ
authors: Lambert
authors: Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Oregon 97239.
authors: Monika A
authors: MA
authors: Davare
authors: Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, and Program in Neuroscience, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, and waymang@vetmed.wsu.edu appleyas@vetmed.wsu.edu.
authors: Suzanne M
authors: SM
authors: Appleyard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D054737:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D054729:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D049229:Dendritic Spines / Q000378:metabolism*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020738:Leptin / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D050052:TRPC Cation Channels; C104603:TRPC3 cation channel; C096351:transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily C, member 1; D054737:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Kinase; D054729:Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 1; C475663:Camk1g protein, rat
keywords: CaM kinase; TrpC; dendritic spine; leptin