title: Modulation of the NMDA Receptor Through Secreted Soluble Factors.
abstract: Synaptic activity is a critical determinant in the formation and development of excitatory synapses in the central nervous system (CNS). The excitatory current is produced and regulated by several ionotropic receptors, including those that respond to glutamate. These channels are in turn regulated through several secreted factors that function as synaptic organizers. Specifically, Wnt, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and transforming growth factor (TGF) particularly regulate the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) glutamatergic channel. These factors likely regulate early embryonic development and directly control key proteins in the function of important glutamatergic channels. Here, we review the secreted molecules that participate in synaptic organization and discuss the cell signaling behind of this fine regulation. Additionally, we discuss how these factors are dysregulated in some neuropathologies associated with glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the CNS.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Función y Patología Neuronal, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile. wcerpa@bio.puc.cl.
authors.forename: Waldo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cerpa
authors.affiliation: Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ramos-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.|Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, UNSW, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.|Centro de Excelencia en Biomedicina de Magallanes (CEBIMA), Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile.
authors.forename: Nibaldo C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Inestrosa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors
keywords: Glutamate; NMDA receptor; Neuroregulation; Neurotrophic; Soluble factors; Synapse