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Lissek T. Enhancement of physiology via adaptive transcription. Pflugers Arch 2025; 477:187-199. [PMID: 39482558 PMCID: PMC11761519 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-024-03037-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2024] [Revised: 09/30/2024] [Accepted: 10/22/2024] [Indexed: 11/03/2024]
Abstract
The enhancement of complex physiological functions such as cognition and exercise performance in healthy individuals represents a challenging goal. Adaptive transcription programs that are naturally activated in animals to mediate cellular plasticity in response to stimulation can be leveraged to enhance physiological function above wild-type levels in young organisms and counteract complex functional decline in aging. In processes such as learning and memory and exercise-dependent muscle remodeling, a relatively small number of molecules such as certain stimulus-responsive transcription factors and immediate early genes coordinate widespread changes in cellular physiology. Adaptive transcription can be targeted by various methods including pharmaceutical compounds and gene transfer technologies. Important problems for leveraging adaptive transcription programs for physiological enhancement include a better understanding of their dynamical organization, more precise methods to influence the underlying molecular components, and the integration of adaptive transcription into multi-scale physiological enhancement concepts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Lissek
- Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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2
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RAGE signaling pathway is involved in CUS-induced depression-like behaviors by regulating the expression of NR2A and NR2B in rat hippocampus DG. Exp Neurol 2023; 361:114299. [PMID: 36521778 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2022.114299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
NMDA receptors play pivotal roles in the neurobiology of chronic stress-induced mood disorders. But the mechanism for chronic stress to disturb the expression of NMDA receptor subunits is still unclear. Recent researches indicated the involvement RAGE signaling pathway in regulation of glutamate system functions. In this study, we hypothesized RAGE signaling pathway mediated chronic stress-induced alteration in the expression of NMDA receptor subunits, leading to depressive-like behaviors. CUS decreased the expression of RAGE, NR2A, and NR2B, inhibited the phosphorylation of transcript factor ERK and CREB in rat hippocampus DG. RAGE knockdown in hippocampus DG by RAGE shRNA lentiviral particles induced depressive-like behaviors, reduced the mRNA and protein expression of NR2A and NR2B, and inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK and CREB. RAGE over-expression in hippocampus DG by RAGE adenovirus particles reversed the effects of CUS on depressive-like behaviors, ERK and CREB phosphorylation, and NR2A and NR2B expression. Our findings suggests that RAGE signaling pathway at least partially participates in the regulation of NR2A and NR2B expression, which mediates the effects of chronic stress on the depressive-like behaviors. These data provide evidence for RAGE signaling as a possible new pathway through which chronic stress results in the maladaptation of NMDA receptors.
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3
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Tang X, Xie S, Wang H, Li Y, Lai Z, Sun S, Pan R, Huang Y, Cai J. The combination of Astragalus membranaceus and ligustrazine mitigates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury via regulating NR2B-ERK/CREB signaling. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e2867. [PMID: 36585899 PMCID: PMC9927841 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.2867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major factor underlying the high mortality and morbidity rates in stroke patients. Our previous study found that the combination of Astragalus membranaceus extract and ligustrazine (Ast+Lig) treatment could protect brain tissues against inflammation in rats with thrombolytic cerebral ischemia. Activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) is implicated in brain damage induced by cerebral I/R injury. METHODS We used in vivo and in vitro models of cerebral I/R injury for middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion in mice and oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation in primary rat cerebral cortical neurons to evaluate the protective effects of Ast+Lig on cerebral I/R injury, and whether the protective mechanism was related to the regulation of NMDAR-ERK/CREB signaling. RESULTS Treatment with Ast+Lig, or MK-801 (an inhibitor of NMDAR) significantly ameliorated neurological deficits, decreased infarct volumes, suppressed neuronal damage and Ca2+ influx, and maintained the mitochondrial membrane potential in vivo and in vitro following cerebral I/R injury based on 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescent staining. Furthermore, treatment with Ast+Lig evidently prevented the upregulation of NR2B, but not NR2A, in vivo and in vitro following cerebral I/R injury based on western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analyses. Moreover, treatment with Ast+Lig significantly increased the phosphorylation of ERK and CREB, as well as increasing their mRNA expression levels in vivo and in vitro following cerebral I/R injury. CONCLUSIONS The overall results thus suggest that the Ast+Lig combination conferred neuroprotective properties against cerebral I/R injury via regulation of the NR2B-ERK/CREB signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xialing Tang
- The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Encephalopathy, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Shanshan Xie
- The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Encephalopathy, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huajun Wang
- The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Encephalopathy, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingbin Li
- The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Encephalopathy, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital of Guangzhou University Mega Center, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiyu Lai
- The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Encephalopathy, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuangxi Sun
- The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Encephalopathy, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruanhuan Pan
- The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Encephalopathy, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Huang
- The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Encephalopathy, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Cai
- The Second Institute of Clinical Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Diagnosis and Treatment Center of Encephalopathy, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital of Guangzhou University Mega Center, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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4
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Engin AB, Engin A. Alzheimer's Disease and Protein Kinases. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1275:285-321. [PMID: 33539020 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-49844-3_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and accounts for more than 60-80% of all cases of dementia. Loss of pyramidal neurons, extracellular amyloid beta (Abeta) accumulated senile plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles that contain hyperphosphorylated tau constitute the main pathological alterations in AD.Synaptic dysfunction and extrasynaptic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) hyperactivation contributes to excitotoxicity in patients with AD. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Abeta promoted neurodegeneration develop through the activation of protein kinase signaling cascade in AD. Furthermore, ultimate neuronal death in AD is under control of protein kinases-related signaling pathways. In this chapter, critical check-points within the cross-talk between neuron and protein kinases have been defined regarding the initiation and progression of AD. In this context, amyloid cascade hypothesis, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, granulovacuolar degeneration, loss of Wnt signaling, Abeta-related synaptic alterations, prolonged calcium ions overload and NMDAR-related synaptotoxicity, damage signals hypothesis and type-3 diabetes are discussed briefly.In addition to clinical perspective of AD pathology, recommendations that might be effective in the treatment of AD patients have been reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayse Basak Engin
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Atilla Engin
- Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
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5
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Memantine Differentially Regulates Tau Phosphorylation Induced by Chronic Restraint Stress of Varying Duration in Mice. Neural Plast 2019; 2019:4168472. [PMID: 30906318 PMCID: PMC6393894 DOI: 10.1155/2019/4168472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to chronic psychiatric stress has been linked to Alzheimer's disease-related tau hyperphosphorylation and abnormalities in glutamate neurotransmission. However, the pathological relationship between glutamatergic dysfunction and tau phosphorylation in the cerebral cortex under chronic psychiatric stress is not fully understood. The present study investigated the effects of memantine (MEM, 5 and 10 mg/kg), an uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist, on chronic restraint stress- (CRS-) induced tau phosphorylation in mice. CRS administered for 16 or 28 consecutive days (1 h daily) induced significant tau phosphorylation in the brain. MEM treatment suppressed the elevation of phosphorylated tau (P-tau) levels induced by 16-day CRS in a dose-dependent manner. P-tau reduction was accompanied by the attenuation of the upregulation of GSK3β and CDK5 expression and the downregulation of PP2A activity induced by CRS. Additionally, MEM reduced CRS-induced upregulation of NMDA receptor subunit levels (GluN2A, GluN2B) in the frontal cortex. However, MEM markedly enhanced tau phosphorylation in the frontal cortex and other cerebral cortical regions following 28 days of CRS. The stimulatory effect of MEM on CRS-induced tau phosphorylation was correlated with increased activities of AKT, JNK, and GSK3β, inactivation of PP2A, and downregulation of Pin1 and HSP70. Moreover, MEM did not effectively reverse the NMDA receptor upregulation induced by 28-day CRS and even increased GluN2B subunit levels. In contrast to the duration-dependent effects of MEM on P-tau levels, MEM produced an anxiolytic effect in both regimens as revealed by elevated plus maze testing. However, MEM did not affect the body weight reduction induced by CRS. Thus, MEM exerts distinctive effects on CRS-induced tau phosphorylation, which might be related to the expression of GluN2B. The differential effects of MEM on P-tau levels have crucial implications for its clinical application.
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6
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Sun Y, Xu Y, Cheng X, Chen X, Xie Y, Zhang L, Wang L, Hu J, Gao Z. The differences between GluN2A and GluN2B signaling in the brain. J Neurosci Res 2018; 96:1430-1443. [PMID: 29682799 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, a typical ionotropic glutamate receptor, is a crucial protein for maintaining brain function. GluN2A and GluN2B are the main types of NMDA receptor subunit in the adult forebrain. Studies have demonstrated that they play different roles in a number of pathophysiological processes. Although the underlying mechanism for this has not been clarified, the most fundamental reason may be the differences between the signaling pathways associated with GluN2A and GluN2B. With the aim of elucidating the reasons behind the diverse roles of these two subunits, we described the signaling differences between GluN2A and GluN2B from the aspects of C-terminus-associated molecules, effects on typical downstream signaling proteins, and metabotropic signaling. Because there are several factors interfering with the determination of subunit-specific signaling, there is still a long way to go toward clarifying the signaling differences between these two subunits. Developing better pharmacology tools, such as highly selective antagonists for triheteromeric GluN2A- and GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors, and establishing new molecular biological methods, for example, engineering photoswitchable NMDA receptors, may be useful for clarifying the signaling differences between GluN2A and GluN2B.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjun Sun
- Department of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China.,Hebei Research Center of Pharmaceutical and Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingge Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaokun Cheng
- Department of Physical and Chemical Analysis, North China Pharmaceutical Group New Drug Research and Development Co., Ltd, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinghua Xie
- Department of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China.,Hebei Research Center of Pharmaceutical and Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Linan Zhang
- Department of Pathophysiology, College of Basic Medical Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Long Wang
- Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, California
| | - Jie Hu
- Nursing Research Center, School of Nursing, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zibin Gao
- Department of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China.,Hebei Research Center of Pharmaceutical and Chemical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China.,State Key Laboratory Breeding Base, Hebei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Chemistry for Drug, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
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7
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NR4A1 Knockdown Suppresses Seizure Activity by Regulating Surface Expression of NR2B. Sci Rep 2016; 6:37713. [PMID: 27876882 PMCID: PMC5120300 DOI: 10.1038/srep37713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 (NR4A1), a downstream target of CREB that is a key regulator of epileptogenesis, has been implicated in a variety of biological processes and was previously identified as a seizure-associated molecule. However, the relationship between NR4A1 and epileptogenesis remains unclear. Here, we showed that NR4A1 protein was predominantly expressed in neurons and up-regulated in patients with epilepsy as well as pilocarpine-induced mouse epileptic models. NR4A1 knockdown by lentivirus transfection (lenti-shNR4A1) alleviated seizure severity and prolonged onset latency in mouse models. Moreover, reciprocal coimmunoprecipitation of NR4A1 and NR2B demonstrated their interaction. Furthermore, the expression of p-NR2B (Tyr1472) in epileptic mice and the expression of NR2B in the postsynaptic density (PSD) were significantly reduced in the lenti-shNR4A1 group, indicating that NR4A1 knockdown partly decreased surface NR2B by promoting NR2B internalization. These results are the first to indicate that the expression of NR4A1 in epileptic brain tissues may provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying epilepsy.
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8
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Chen L, Zhang B, Shan S, Zhao X. Neuroprotective effects of vitexin against isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity by targeting the TRPV1 and NR2B signaling pathways. Mol Med Rep 2016; 14:5607-5613. [PMID: 27878303 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.5948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 07/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitexin is a bioactive compound extracted from hawthorn leaves, which reduces blood pressure and has anti‑inflammatory and potential anticancer effects. However, the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of vitexin against isoflurane‑induced neurotoxicity remain elusive. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate these mechanisms further. Sprague Dawley rats received 1.4% isoflurane in a 100% oxygen environment for 2 h. Human PC12 pheochromocytoma neurosecretory cells were exposed to 2% isoflurane for 12 h before they were treated with 1, 10 or 100 µM vitexin for a further 24 h. Vitexin inhibited the isoflurane-induced cell cytotoxicity and weakened isoflurane-induced neuroinflammation and oxidative stress pathways in PC12 cells. In addition, treatment with vitexin suppressed isoflurane‑induced caspase‑3 activation and increased β-secretase 1 levels in PC12 cells. Furthermore, vitexin treatment decreased the levels of isoflurane‑induced cytosolic calcium and reactive oxygen species, and downregulated the expression of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1) and glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 2B (NR2B) protein expression in isoflurane-treated PC12 cells. These results suggest that vitexin mediates its protective effects against isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity by targeting the TRPV1 and NR2B signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061000, P.R. China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061000, P.R. China
| | - Shiqiang Shan
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061000, P.R. China
| | - Xin Zhao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Cangzhou Central Hospital, Cangzhou, Hebei 061000, P.R. China
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9
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Surface expression of hippocampal NMDA GluN2B receptors regulated by fear conditioning determines its contribution to memory consolidation in adult rats. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30743. [PMID: 27487820 PMCID: PMC4973269 DOI: 10.1038/srep30743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The number and subtype composition of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) at synapses determines their functional properties and role in learning and memory. Genetically increased or decreased amount of GluN2B affects hippocampus-dependent memory in the adult brain. But in some experimental conditions (e.g., memory elicited by a single conditioning trial (1 CS-US)), GluN2B is not a necessary factor, which indicates that the precise role of GluN2B in memory formation requires further exploration. Here, we examined the role of GluN2B in the consolidation of fear memory using two training paradigms. We found that GluN2B was only required for the consolidation of memory elicited by five conditioning trials (5 CS-US), not by 1 CS-US. Strikingly, the expression of membrane GluN2B in CA1was training-strength-dependently increased after conditioning, and that the amount of membrane GluN2B determined its involvement in memory consolidation. Additionally, we demonstrated the increases in the activities of cAMP, ERK, and CREB in the CA1 after conditioning, as well as the enhanced intrinsic excitability and synaptic efficacy in CA1 neurons. Up-regulation of membrane GluN2B contributed to these enhancements. These studies uncover a novel mechanism for the involvement of GluN2B in memory consolidation by its accumulation at the cell surface in response to behavioral training.
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10
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Wang H, Peng RY. Basic roles of key molecules connected with NMDAR signaling pathway on regulating learning and memory and synaptic plasticity. Mil Med Res 2016; 3:26. [PMID: 27583167 PMCID: PMC5006437 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-016-0095-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
With key roles in essential brain functions ranging from the long-term potentiation (LTP) to synaptic plasticity, the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) can be considered as one of the fundamental glutamate receptors in the central nervous system. The role of NMDA R was first identified in synaptic plasticity and has been extensively studied. Some molecules, such as Ca(2+), postsynaptic density 95 (PSD-95), calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II), protein kinase A (PKA), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) responsive element binding protein (CREB), are of special importance in learning and memory. This review mainly focused on the new research of key molecules connected with learning and memory, which played important roles in the NMDAR signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, 100850 China
| | - Rui-Yun Peng
- Department of Experimental Pathology, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, 100850 China
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