Translational activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit NR1 mRNA in PC12 cells

PC12 cells contain NR1 mRNA but lack significant expression of NR1 protein suggesting translational or posttranslational regulation. Translational activity of NR1 mRNA in PC12 cells was examined by sucrose gradient fractionation and by heterologous luciferase NR1 gene expression studies. The cosedimentation and association of NR1 mRNA with large polyribosomes (polysomes) confirmed the translatability of NR1 message in PC12 cells. Possible initiation and/or elongation defects during the translation of NR1 mRNAs were investigated by cyclohexamide treatment. The marked decline in the number of ribosomes associated with NR1 mRNA after prolonged exposure to cyclohexamide suggested that initiation was limiting translation of NR1 mRNA in PC12 cells. Consequently, the effect of the 5' and 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) on translation was examined using fusion constructs consisting of the luciferase coding region fused to either or both the 5' UTR and 3' UTR of NR1. The transfection of PC12 cells with the luciferase NR1-UTR fusion constructs revealed that the 3' UTR of NR1 had a significant inhibitory effect on luciferase expression. In contrast, the 5' UTR of NR1 had no inhibitory effect on mRNA translation in PC12 cells. The results from this study indicate that the translation of NR1 mRNA in PC12 cells may be impeded at initiation and this inhibition may be regulated at least in part through the 3' UTR of NR1.     

Chronic blockade of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors alters gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor peptide expression and function in the rat

Chronic in vivo or in vitro application of GABA(A) receptor agonists alters GABA(A) receptor peptide expression and function. Furthermore, chronic in vitro application of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) agonists and antagonists alters GABA(A) receptor function and mRNA expression. However, it is unknown if chronic in vivo blockade of NMDA receptors alters GABA(A) receptor function and peptide expression in brain. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were chronically administered the noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 (0.40 mg/kg, twice daily) for 14 days. Chronic blockade of NMDA receptors significantly increased hippocampal GABA(A) receptor alpha4 and gamma2 subunit expression while significantly decreasing hippocampal GABA(A) receptor alpha2 and beta2/3 subunit expression. Hippocampal GABA(A) receptor alpha1 subunit peptide expression was not altered. In contrast, no significant alterations in GABA(A) receptor subunit expression were found in cerebral cortex. Chronic MK-801 administration also significantly decreased GABA(A) receptor-mediated hippocampal Cl- uptake, whereas no change was found in GABA(A) receptor-mediated cerebral cortical Cl- uptake. Finally, chronic MK-801 administration did not alter NMDA receptor NR1, NR2A, or NR2B subunit peptide expression in either the cerebral cortex or the hippocampus. These data demonstrate heterogeneous regulation of GABA(A) receptors by glutamatergic activity in rat hippocampus but not cerebral cortex, suggesting a new mechanism of GABA(A) receptor regulation in brain.     

Synaptic activity-dependent developmental regulation of NMDA receptor subunit expression in cultured neocortical neurons

The biophysical properties of NMDA receptors are thought to be critical determinants involved in the regulation of long-term synaptic plasticity during neocortical development. NMDA receptor channel properties are strongly dependent on the subunit composition of heteromeric NMDA receptors. During neocortical development in vivo, the expression of the NMDA receptor 2A (NR2A) subunit is up-regulated at the mRNA and protein level correlating with changes in the kinetic and pharmacological properties of functional NMDA receptors. To investigate the developmental regulation of NMDA receptor subunit expression, we studied NR2 mRNA expression in cultured neocortical neurons. With increasing time in culture, they showed a similar up-regulation of NR2A mRNA expression as described in vivo. As demonstrated by chronic blockade of postsynaptic glutamate receptors in vitro, the regulation of NR2A mRNA was strongly dependent on synaptic activity. In contrast, NR2B mRNA expression was not influenced by activity blockade. Moreover, as shown pharmacologically, the regulation of NR2A mRNA expression was mediated by postsynaptic Ca(2+) influx through both NMDA receptors and L-type Ca(2+) channels. It is interesting that even relatively weak expression of NR2A mRNA was correlated with clearly reduced sensitivity of NMDA receptor-mediated whole-cell currents against the NR2B subunit-specific antagonist ifenprodil. Developmental changes in the expression of NR1 mRNA splice variants were also strongly dependent on synaptic activity and thus might, in addition to regulation of NR2 subunit expression, contribute to developmental changes in the properties of functional NMDA receptors. In summary, our results demonstrate that synaptic activity is a key factor in the regulation of NMDA receptor subunit expression during neocortical development.     

The NMDA receptor NR2A subunit regulates proliferation of MKN45 human gastric cancer cells

The present study investigated proliferation of MKN28 and MKN45 human gastric cancer cells regulated by the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit. The NMDA receptor antagonist dl-2-amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (AP5) inhibited proliferation of MKN45 cells, but not MKN28 cells. Of the NMDA subunits such as NR1, NR2 (2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D), and NR3 (3A and 3B), all the NMDA subunit mRNAs except for the NR2B subunit mRNA were expressed in both MKN28 and MKN45 cells. MKN45 cells were characterized by higher expression of the NR2A subunit mRNA and lower expression of the NR1 subunit mRNA, but MKN28 otherwise by higher expression of the NR1 subunit mRNA and lower expression of the NR2A subunit mRNA. MKN45 cell proliferation was also inhibited by silencing the NR2A subunit-targeted gene. For MKN45 cells, AP5 or knocking-down the NR2A subunit increased the proportion of cells in the G₁ phase of cell cycling and decreased the proportion in the S/G₂ phase. The results of the present study, thus, suggest that blockage of NMDA receptors including the NR2A subunit suppresses MKN45 cell proliferation due to cell cycle arrest at the G₁ phase; in other words, the NR2A subunit promotes MKN45 cell proliferation by accelerating cell cycling.     

Translationally distinct populations of NMDA receptor subunit NR1 mRNA in the developing rat brain

The translational activity of the NMDA subunit 1 (NR1) mRNA was examined in the developing rat brain by sucrose gradient fractionation. One translationally-active pool of NR1 mRNA was associated with large polyribosomes (polysomes) over the entire developmental period examined. A second NR1 mRNA pool, approximately half of the NR1 mRNA at post-natal day 4, sedimented only within the two to three ribosome range, indicating that it was translationally blocked during early brain development despite active translation of mRNAs coding for the NR2 subunits of the receptor. At post-natal day 4, both NR1 mRNA pools were distributed throughout the brain and contained similar profiles of NR1 mRNA splice variants, except that NR1-3 appeared to be present only in the translationally-blocked NR1 pool. After post-natal day 8, the translationally-blocked NR1 mRNA pool became progressively active within a background of globally-decreasing brain translational activity.     

Inducible expression and pharmacological characterization of recombinant rat NR1a/NR2A NMDA receptors

In this study, we have established a non-neuronal cell line stably and inducibly expressing recombinant NMDA receptors (NRs) composed of rat NR1a/NR2A subunits. EcR-293 cells were transfected with rat NR1a and NR2A cDNAs using the inducible mammalian expression vector pIND. Cell colonies resistant for the selecting agents were picked and tested for NR2A mRNA as well as protein expression using quantitative RT-PCR and flow cytometry based immunocytochemistry. Clonal cells expressing functional NMDA receptors were identified by measuring NMDA-evoked ion currents, and NMDA-induced increase in cytosolic free calcium concentration in whole-cell patch-clamp and fluorimetric calcium measurements, respectively. One clone named D5/H3, which exhibited the highest response to NMDA, was chosen to examine inducibility of the expression and for pharmacological profiling of recombinant NR1a/NR2A NMDA receptors. To check inducibility, NR2A subunit expression in D5/H3 cells treated with the inducing agent muristerone A (MuA) was compared with that in non-induced cells. Both NR2A mRNA and protein expression was several folds higher in cells treated with the inducing agent. As part of the pharmacological characterization, we examined the activation of the expressed NR1a/NR2A receptors as a function of increasing concentration of NMDA. NMDA-evoked concentration-dependent increases in cytosolic [Ca2+] with an EC50 value of 41 +/- 1 microM. In addition, whereas the NMDA response was concentration-dependently inhibited by the channel blocker MK-801 (IC50 = 58 +/- 6 nM), NR2B subunit selective NMDA receptor antagonists were ineffective. Thus, this cell line, which stably and inducibly expresses recombinant NR1a/NR2A NMDA receptors, can be a useful tool for testing NMDA receptor antagonists and studying their subunit selectivity.     

Expression of mRNAs Encoding Subunits of the NMDA Receptor in Developing Rat Brain

Abstract: Developmental changes in the levels of N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit mRNAs were identified in rat brain using solution hybridization/RNase protection assays. Pronounced increases in the levels of mRNAs encoding NR1 and NR2A were seen in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum between postnatal days 7 and 20. In cortex and hippocampus, the expression of NR2B mRNA was high in neonatal rats and remained relatively constant over time. In contrast, in cerebellum, the level of NR2B mRNA was highest at postnatal day 1 and declined to undetectable levels by postnatal day 28. NR2C mRNA was not detectable in cerebellum before postnatal day 11, after which it increased to reach adult levels by postnatal day 28. In cortex, the expression of NR2A and NR2B mRNAs corresponds to the previously described developmental profile of NMDA receptor subtypes having low and high affinities for ifenprodil, i.e., a delayed expression of NR2A correlating with the late expression of low-affinity ifenprodil sites. In cortex and hippocampus, the predominant splice variants of NR1 were those without the 5' insert and with or without both 3' inserts. In cerebellum, however, the major NR1 variants were those containing the 5' insert and lacking both 3' inserts. The results show that the expression of NR1 splice variants and NR2 subunits is differentially regulated in various brain regions during development. Changes in subunit expression are likely to underlie some of the changes in the functional and pharmacological properties of NMDA receptors that occur during development.     

N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists enhance histamine neuron activity in rodent brain

The modulation of histamine neuron activity by various non-competitive NMDA-receptor antagonists was evaluated by changes in tele-methylhistamine (t-MeHA) levels and histidine decarboxylase (hdc) mRNA expression induced in rodent brain. The NMDA open-channel blockers phencyclidine (PCP) and MK-801 enhanced t-MeHA levels in mouse brain by 50-60%. Ifenprodil, which interacts with polyamine sites of NR2B-containing NMDA receptors, had no effect. PCP also increased hdc mRNA expression in the rat tuberomammillary nucleus. The enhancement of t-MeHA levels elicited by MK-801 (ED50 of approximately 0.1 mg/kg) was observed in the hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, striatum and hippocampus. Control t-MeHA levels and the t-MeHA response to MK-801 were not different in male and female mice. Double immunostaining for HDC and NMDA receptor subunits showed that histamine neurons of the rat tuberomammillary nucleus express NMDA receptor subunit 1 (NR1) with NMDA receptor subunit 2A (NR2A) and NMDA receptor 2B subunit (NR2B). In addition, immunoreactivity for the neuronal glutamate transporter EAAC1 was observed near most histaminergic perikarya. Hence, these findings support the existence of histamine/glutamate functional interactions in the brain. The increase in histamine neuron activity induced by NMDA receptor antagonists further suggests a role of histamine neurons in psychotic disorders. In addition, the decrease in MK-801-induced hyperlocomotion observed in mice after administration of ciproxifan further strengthens the potential interest of H3-receptor antagonist/inverse agonists for the symptomatic treatment of schizophrenia.     

Developmental regulation of NMDA receptor 2B subunit mRNA and ifenprodil binding in the zebra finch anterior forebrain

In passerine songbirds, song learning often is restricted to an early sensitive period and requires the participation of several discrete regions within the anterior forebrain. Activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors is implicated in song learning and in one forebrain song region, the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the anterior neostriatum (IMAN), NMDA receptors decrease in density, their affinity for the antagonist MK-801 increases, and their currents decay more quickly as young male zebra finches lose the ability to imitate new song elements. These developmental changes in NMDA receptor pharmacology and physiology suggest that the subunit composition of NMDA receptors changes developmentally. Here, we have used in situ hybridization and [3H]ifenprodil receptor autoradiography to study the developmental regulation of the NMDA receptor 2B subunit (NR2B) within the anterior forebrain of male zebra finches. NR2B mRNA expression within the IMAN was twice as great in 30-day-old males (early in the sensitive period for song learning) as in adult males, and this developmental decrease in NR2B mRNA expression was mirrored by a decrease in high-affinity (NR2B-associated) [3H]ifenprodil binding within this song region. In another anterior forebrain song region, Area X, NR2B mRNA also declined significantly after 30 days posthatch, but this decline was not accompanied by a significant decrease in [3H]ifenprodil binding. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that developmental changes in NMDA receptor function mediated by regulation of subunit composition contribute to the sensitive period for vocal learning in birds.     

Transient global ischemia in rat brain promotes different NMDA receptor regulation depending on the brain structure studied

The mRNA expression of the major subunits of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NR1, NR2A and NR2B) following ischemia–reperfusion was studied in structures with different vulnerabilities to ischemic insult in the rat brain. The study was performed using quantitative real-time PCR on samples from 3-month-old male Sprague–Dawley rats after global transient forebrain ischemia followed by 48 h of reperfusion. Expression of NMDA receptor subunits mRNAs decreased significantly in all structures studied in the injured animals as compared to the sham-operated ones. The hippocampal subfields (CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus) as well as the caudate-putamen, both reported to be highly ischemic-vulnerable structures, showed outstandingly lower mRNA levels of NMDA receptor subunits than the cerebral cortex, which is considered a more ischemic-resistant structure. The ratios of the mRNA levels of the different subunits were analyzed as a measure of the NMDA receptor expression pattern for each structure studied. Hippocampal areas showed changes in NMDA receptor expression after the insult, with significant decreases in the NR2A with respect to the NR1 and NR2B subunits. Thus, the NR1:NR2A:NR2B (1:1:2) ratios observed in the sham-operated animals became (2:1:4) in insulted animals. This modified expression pattern was similar in CA1, CA3 and the dentate gyrus, in spite of the different vulnerabilities reported for these hippocampal areas. In contrast, no significant differences in the expression pattern were observed in the caudate-putamen or cerebral cortex on comparing the sham-operated animals with the ischemia-reperfused rats. Our results support the notion that the regulation of NMDA receptor gene expression is dependent on the brain structure rather than on the higher or lower vulnerability of the area studied.     

Ginsenoside Rc and Rg1 Differentially Modulate NMDA Receptor Subunit mRNA Levels after Intracerebroventricular Infusion in Rats

We investigated the influence of centrally administered ginsenoside on the regulation of mRNA levels of the family of NMDA receptor subtypes (NR1, NR2A, NR2B, NR2C) by in situ hybridization histochemistry in the rat brain. The ginsenosides Rc and Rg1, the major components of ginseng saponin, differentially modulate NMDA receptor subunit mRNA levels in rat brain following prolonged i.c.v.-infusion. Ginsenosides Rc or Rg1 (10 g/10 l/hr for 7 days) was infused through preimplanted cannulae connected to osmotic mini-pumps. The level of NR1 mRNA is significantly increased in temporal cortex, caudate putamen, hippocampus, and granule layer of cerebellum in Rg1-infused rats as compared to control group. The level of NR2A mRNA is elevated in the frontal cortex. In contrast, it was decreased in CA1 area of hippocampus in Rg1-infused rats. However, there was no significant change of NR1 and NR2A mRNA levels in Rc-infused rats. The level of NR2B mRNA is elevated in cortex, caudate putamen, and thalamus in both Rc- and Rg-infused rats. In contrast, NR2B level is decreased in CA3 in Rg1-infused rats. The level of NR2C mRNA is increased in the granule layer of cerebellum in only Rg1 but not Rc infused rats. These results show that structure difference of ginsenoside may diversely affect the modulation of expression of NMDA receptor subunit mRNA after infusion into cerebroventricle in rats.     

Modulation of NMDA Receptor Subunit mRNA in Butorphanol-Tolerant and —Withdrawing Rats

The NMDA receptor has been implicated in opioid tolerance and withdrawal. The effects of continuous infusion of butorphanol on the modulation of NMDA receptor subunit NR1, NR2A, NR2B, and NR2C gene expression were investigated by using in situ hybridization technique. Continuous intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion with butorphanol (26 nmol/l/h) resulted in significant modulations in the NR1, NR2A, and NR2B mRNA levels. The level of NR1 mRNA was significantly decreased in the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and CA1 area of hippocampus in butorphanol tolerant and withdrawal (7 h after stopping the infusion) rats. The NR2A mRNA was significantly decreased in the CA1 and CA3 of hippocampus in tolerant rats and increased in the cerebral cortex and dentate gyrus in butorphanol withdrawal rats. NR2B subunit mRNA was decreased in the cerebral cortex, caudate putamen, thalamus, CA3 of hippocampus in butorphanol withdrawal rats. No changes of NR1, NR2A, NR2C subunit mRNA in the cerebellar granule cell layer were observed in either butorphanol tolerant or withdrawal rats. Using quantitative ligand autoradiography, the binding of NMDA receptor ligand [³H]MK-801 was increased significantly in all brain regions except in the thalamus and hippocampus, at the 7 hr after stopping the butorphanol infusion. These results suggest that region-specific changes of NMDA receptor subunit mRNA (NR 1 and NR2) as well as NMDA receptor binding ([³H]MK-801) are involved in the development of tolerance to and withdrawal from butorphanol.     

Transcription of the NR1 subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor is down-regulated by excitotoxic stimulation and cerebral ischemia

The N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) type of glutamate receptor (NMDAR) plays central roles in normal and pathological neuronal functioning. We have examined the regulation of the NR1 subunit of the NMDAR in response to excessive activation of this receptor in in vitro and in vivo models of excitotoxicity. NR1 protein expression in cultured cortical neurons was specifically reduced by stimulation with 100 microM NMDA or glutamate. NMDA decreased NR1 protein amounts by 71% after 8 h. Low NMDA concentrations (< or = 10 microM) had no effect. NR1 down-regulation was inhibited by the general NMDAR antagonist DL-AP5 and also by ifenprodil, which specifically antagonizes NMDARs containing NR2B subunits. Arrest of NMDAR signaling with DL-AP5 after brief exposure to NMDA did not prevent subsequent NR1 decrease. Down-regulation of NR1 did not involve calpain cleavage but resulted from a decrease in de novo synthesis consequence of reduced mRNA amounts. In contrast, NMDA did not alter the expression of NR2A mRNA or newly synthesized protein. In neurons transiently transfected with an NR1 promoter/luciferase reporter construct, promoter activity was reduced by 68% after 2 h of stimulation with NMDA, and its inhibition required extracellular calcium. A similar mechanism of autoregulation of the receptor probably operates during cerebral ischemia, because NR1 mRNA and protein were strongly decreased at early stages of blood reperfusion in the infarcted brains of rats subjected to occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Because NR1 is the obligatory subunit of NMDARs, this regulatory mechanism will be fundamental to NMDAR functioning.     

Subcellular segregation of distinct heteromeric NMDA glutamate receptors in the striatum

Functional N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors are composed of heteromeric complexes of NR1, the obligatory subunit for channel activity, and NR2 or NR3 family members, which confer variability in the properties of the receptors. Recent studies have provided evidence for the existence of both binary (containing NR1 and either NR2A or NR2B) and ternary (containing NR1, NR2A, and NR2B) receptor complexes in the adult mammalian brain. However, the mechanisms regulating subunit assembly and receptor localization are not well understood. In the CNS, NMDA subunits are present both at intracellular sites and the post-synaptic membrane of neurons. Using biochemical protein fractionation and co-immunoprecipitation approaches we have found that in rat striatum binary NMDA receptors are widely distributed, and can be identified in the light membrane, synaptosomal membrane, and synaptic vesicle-enriched subcellular compartments. In contrast, ternary receptors are found exclusively in the synaptosomal membranes. When striatal proteins are chemically cross-linked prior to subcellular fractionation, ternary NMDA receptors can be precipitated from the light membrane and synaptic vesicle-enriched fractions where this type of receptor complex is not detectable under normal conditions. These findings suggest differential targeting of distinct types of NMDA receptor assemblies between intracellular and post-synaptic sites based on subunit composition. This targeting may underlie important differences in the regulation of the transport pathways involved in both normal as well as pathological receptor functions.     

Modulation of the levels of NMDA receptor subunit mRNA and the bindings of [3H]MK-801 in rat brain by chronic infusion of subtoxic dose of MK-801

The effects of continuous infusion of NMDA receptor antagonist MK-801 on the modulation of NMDA receptor subunits NR1, NR2A, NR2B, and NR2C were investigated by using in situ hybridization study. Differential assembly of NMDA receptor subunits determines their functional characteristics. Continuous intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) infusion with MK-801 (1 pmol/10 l/h) for 7 days resulted in significant modulations in the NR1, NR2A, and NR2B mRNA levels without producing stereotypic motor syndromes. The levels of NR1 mRNA were significantly increased (9-20%) in the cerebral cortex, striatum, septum, and CA1 of hippocampus in MK-801-infused rats. The levels of NR2A mRNA were significantly decreased (11-16%) in the CA3 and dentate gyrus of hippocampus in MK-801-infused rats. In contrast to NR2A, NR2B subunit mRNA levels were increased (10-14%) in the cerebral cortex, caudate putamen, and thalamus. However, no changes of NR2C subunits in cerebellar granule layer were observed. Using quantitative ligand autoradiography, the binding of NMDA receptor ligand [³H]MK-801 was increased (12-25%) significantly in almost all brain regions except in the thalamus and cerebellum after 7 days infusion with MK-801. These results suggest that region-specific changes of NMDA receptor subunit mRNA and [³H]MK-801 binding are involved in the MK-801-infused adult rats.     

Amyloid precursor protein 695 associates with assembled NR2A‐ and NR2B‐containing NMDA receptors to result in the enhancement of their cell surface delivery

This is a study of the interaction between the two NMDA neurotransmitter receptor subtypes, NR1/NR2A and NR1/NR2B, and amyloid precursor protein (APP) 695, the major APP variant expressed in neurones. APP695 co‐immunoprecipitated with assembled NR1‐1a/NR2A and NR1‐1a/NR2B NMDA receptors following expression in mammalian cells. Single NR1‐1a, NR1‐2a, NR1‐4b^c‐Myc, or NR2 subunit transfections revealed that co‐association of APP695 with assembled NMDA receptors was mediated via the NR1 subunit; it was independent of the NR1 C1, C2, and C2′ cassettes and, the use of an NR1‐2a^c‐Myc‐trafficking mutant suggested that interaction between the two proteins occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum. The use of antibodies directed against extracellular and intracellular NR2 subunit epitopes for immunoprecipitations suggested that APP/NMDA receptor association was mediated via N‐terminal domains. Anti‐APP antibodies immunoprecipitated NR1, NR2A, and NR2B immunoreactive bands from detergent extracts of mammalian brain; reciprocally, anti‐NR1 or anti‐NR2A antibodies co‐immunoprecipitated APP immunoreactivity. Immune pellets from brain were sensitive to endoglycosidase H suggesting that, as for heterologous expression, APP and NMDA receptor association occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum. Co‐expression of APP695 in mammalian cells resulted in enhanced cell surface expression of both NR1‐1a/NR2A and NR1‐1a/NR2B NMDA receptors with no increase in total subunit expression. These findings are further evidence for a role of APP in intracellular trafficking mechanisms. Further, they provide a link between two major brain proteins that have both been implicated in Alzheimer’s disease.