A novel trimeric peptide, Neuropep-1-stimulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in rat brain improves spatial learning and memory as measured by the Y-maze and Morris water maze

Abundant studies have shown possible links between low levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and depression, as well as stress and anxiety; therefore, BDNF could be a therapeutic target for neurological disorders. In the present study, a positional scanning-synthetic peptide combinatorial library was utilized to identify a peptide modulator of BDNF expression in the hippocampal neuronal cell line, H19-7. A novel tripeptide (Neuropep-1) induced a significant increase of BDNF mRNA and protein levels in H19-7 cells. Pre-treatment of TrkB inhibitor (K252a) did not block Neuropep-1-induced BDNF up-regulation. These results indicate that Neuropep-1 may up-regulate BDNF expression that might be independent of the TrkB receptor pathway. Tail vein injection of Neuropep-1 significantly up-regulated BDNF expression, TrkB phosphorylation, and its downstream signals including activation of Akt, ERK, and cAMP response element binding in the rat hippocampus. To evaluate improvement of spatial learning and memory (SLM) by Neuropep-1-induced BDNF up-regulation, the Y-maze and Morris water maze tests were performed. These results showed Neuropep-1 injection improved SLM performance with increase of BDNF and TrkB expression, activation of TrkB downstream signals in rat hippocampus compared with the control group. However, phosphorylation levels of TrkB were not changed when it was normalized to the level of TrkB expression. The difference on TrkB phosphorylation in Neuropep-1-injected rats may be affected by behavioral tests. These results suggest that Neuropep-1 may improve SLM via activation of the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway in the rat hippocampus. Therefore, our findings represent that Neuropep-1 might be a potential candidate for treatment of learning and memory disorders as well as neurological diseases involving the abnormal expression of BDNF.     

Role of TrkB expression in rat adrenal gland during acute immobilization stress

Expression of tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB), a receptor for brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), is markedly elevated in the adrenal medulla during immobilization stress. Catecholamine release was confirmed in vitro by stimulating chromaffin cells with recombinant BDNF. We investigated the role of TrkB and the localization of BDNF in the adrenal gland during immobilization stress for 60 min. Blood catecholamine levels increased after stimulation with TrkB expressed in the adrenal medulla during 60‐min stress; however, blood catecholamine levels did not increase in adrenalectomized rats. Furthermore, expression of BDNF mRNA and protein was detected in the adrenal medulla during 60‐min stress. Similarly, in rats undergoing sympathetic nerve block with propranolol, BDNF mRNA and protein were detected in the adrenal medulla during 60‐min stress. These results suggest that signal transduction of TrkB in the adrenal medulla evokes catecholamine release. In addition, catecholamine release was evoked by both the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and autocrine signaling by BDNF in the adrenal gland. BDNF–TrkB interaction may play a role in a positive feedback loop in the adrenal medulla during immobilization stress.     

The expression and putative role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor in bovine sperm

The neurotrophin family of proteins promote the survival and differentiation of nerve cells and are thought to play an important role in development of reproductive tissues. The objective of the present study was to detect the presence of Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB in bovine sperm, and explore the potential role of BDNF in sperm function. We demonstrated that both the neorotrophin BDNF and the tyrosine kinase receptor protein TrkB were expressed in ejaculated bovine sperm. Furthermore, BDNF per se was secreted by sperm. Insulin and leptin secretion by bovine sperm were increased (P < 0.01) when cells were exposed to exogenous BDNF, whereas insulin was decreased by K252a. Therefore, we inferred that BDNF could be a regulator of sperm secretion of insulin and leptin through the TrkB receptor. Sperm viability and mitochondrial activity were both decreased (P < 0.05) when the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway was blocked with K252a. Furthermore, BDNF promoted apoptosis of bovine sperm through TrkB binding (P < 0.05). In conclusion, these observations provided evidence that BDNF secreted by bovine sperm was important in regulation of insulin and leptin secretion in ejaculated bovine sperm. Furthermore, BDNF may affect sperm mitochondrial activity and apoptosis, as well as their viability.     

N-type voltage-dependent Ca channel in non-excitable microglial cells in mice is involved in the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain

Peripheral nerve injury induces neuropathic pain which is characterized by tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. N-type voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channel (VDCC) plays pivotal roles in the development of neuropathic pain, since mice lacking Ca_v2.2, the pore-forming subunit of N-type VDCC, show greatly reduced symptoms of both tactile allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia. Our study on gene expression profiles of the Ca_v2.2 knockout (KO) spinal cord after spinal nerve ligation (SNL)-injury revealed altered expression of genes known to be expressed in microglia, raising an odd idea that N-type VDCC may function in not only excitable (neurons) but also non-excitable (microglia) cells in neuropathic pain state. In the present study, we have tested this idea by using a transgenic mouse line, in which suppression of Ca_v2.2 expression can be achieved specifically in microglia/macrophage by the application of tamoxifen. We found SNL-operated transgenic mice exhibited greatly reduced signs of tactile allodynia, whereas the degree of thermal hyperalgesia was almost the same as that of control. Immunohistochemical analysis of the transgenic lumbar spinal cord revealed reduced accumulation of Iba1-positive cells (microglia/macrophage) around the injured neurons, indicating microglial N-type VDCC is important for accumulation of microglia at the lesion sites. Although the mechanism of its activation is not clear at present, activation of N-type VDCC expressed in non-excitable microglial cells contributes to the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain.     

Fear extinction and BDNF: translating animal models of PTSD to the clinic

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is the most studied neurotrophin involved in synaptic plasticity processes that are required for long-term learning and memory. Specifically, BDNF gene expression and activation of its high-affinity tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) receptor are necessary in the amygdala, hippocampus and prefrontal cortex for the formation of emotional memories, including fear memories. Among the psychiatric disorders with altered fear processing, there is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which is characterized by an inability to extinguish fear memories. Since BDNF appears to enhance extinction of fear, targeting impaired extinction in anxiety disorders such as PTSD via BDNF signalling may be an important and novel way to enhance treatment efficacy. The aim of this review is to provide a translational point of view that stems from findings in the BDNF regulation of synaptic plasticity and fear extinction. In addition, there are different systems that seem to alter fear extinction through BDNF modulation like the endocannabinoid system and the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis. Recent work also finds that the pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide and PAC1 receptor, which are upstream of BDNF activation, may be implicated in PTSD. Especially interesting are data that exogenous fear extinction enhancers such as antidepressants, histone deacetylases inhibitors and D-cycloserine, a partial N-methyl d-aspartate agonist, may act through or in concert with the BDNF-TrkB system. Finally, we review studies where recombinant BDNF and a putative TrkB agonist, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone, may enhance extinction of fear. These approaches may lead to novel agents that improve extinction in animal models and eventually humans.     

Elevated expression of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor facilitates visual imprinting in chicks

With the aim of elucidating the neural mechanisms of early learning, we studied the role of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in visual imprinting in birds. The telencephalic neural circuit connecting the visual Wulst and intermediate medial mesopallium is critical for imprinting, and the core region of the hyperpallium densocellulare (HDCo), situated at the center of this circuit, has a key role in regulating the activity of the circuit. We found that the number of BDNF mRNA‐positive cells in the HDCo was elevated during the critical period, particularly at its onset, on the day of hatching (P0). After imprinting training on P1, BDNF mRNA‐positive cells in the HDCo increased in number, and tyrosine phosphorylation of TrkB was observed. BDNF infusion into the HDCo at P1 induced imprinting, even with a weak training protocol that does not normally induce imprinting. In contrast, K252a, an antagonist of Trk, inhibited imprinting. Injection of BDNF at P7, after the critical period, did not elicit imprinting. These results suggest that BDNF promotes the induction of imprinting through TrkB exclusively during the critical period.     

Axonal outgrowth from adult mouse nodose ganglia in vitro is stimulated by neurotrophin‐4 in a Trk receptor and mitogen‐activated protein kinase‐dependent way

The actions of neurotrophic factors on sensory neurons of the adult nodose ganglion were studied in vitro. The ganglia were explanted in an extracellular matrix–based gel that permitted observation of the growing axons. Neurotrophin‐4 (NT‐4) was a very efficient stimulator of outgrowth of axons from the nodose ganglion and had almost doubled the outgrowth length when this was analyzed after 2 days in culture. Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor also stimulated outgrowth, but to a lesser degree, whereas NT‐3 gave only weak stimulatory tendencies. Nerve growth factor and glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor both lacked stimulatory effects. NT‐4 is known to act via TrkB receptors, and the presence of these on growing nodose neurons was demonstrated immunohistochemically. In line with a Trk‐mediated growth effect, the NT‐4 stimulation was abolished by K252a, a selective inhibitor of neurotrophin receptor–associated tyrosine kinase activity. K252a had no effect on the unstimulated preparation. NT‐4 treatment led to activation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase and inhibition of the latter pathway by PD98059 significantly reduced the NT‐4 stimulated outgrowth, whereas the drug had no effect on the unstimulated growth. In conclusion, the data suggest that NT‐4 can serve as a powerful growth factor for neurons of adult nodose ganglia and that the growth stimulation involves TrkB‐ and mitogen‐activated protein kinase. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 45: 142–151, 2000     

Co-activation of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway by N-methyl-D-aspartate and TrkB receptors in cerebellar granule cell neurons

Summary.  Neuroprotective concentrations of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) promote survival of cerebellar granule cell neurons against glutamate excitotoxicity through a TrkB receptor-mediated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) autocrine loop. However, the intracellular signaling pathway(s) are not clear. Our results show that PI-3 kinase/Akt is activated by either NMDA or BDNF displaying differential kinetics. BDNF and NMDA increased Akt phosphorylation within 5 minutes but maximal activation by NMDA was observed at 3 hours. Akt phosphorylation was completely blocked by the PI-3 kinase inhibitor LY294002. NMDA-mediated activation of Akt was completely blocked by MK-801 and partially blocked by the TrkB receptor inhibitor, K252a, indicating the requirement of TrkB receptors for maximal activation by NMDA. In contrast, BDNF-induced Akt phosphorylation was abolished by K252a, but not by the addition of MK-801. Therefore, the PI-3 kinase/Akt pathway is co-activated by NMDA and TrkB receptors. The kinetics of BDNF and NMDA-mediated activation of PI-3 kinase/Akt suggests that they have different roles in intraneuronal time-related events. Received June 29, 2001 Accepted August 6, 2001 Published online June 3, 2002     

Characterization of TrkB Receptor-Mediated Signaling Pathways in Rat Cerebellar Granule Neurons: Involvement of Protein Kinase C in Neuronal Survival

Abstract: TrkB belongs to the Trk family of tyrosine kinase receptors and mediates the response to brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5). Here, we report that both truncated and full-length forms of TrkB receptors are expressed in developing cerebellar granule neurons. BDNF and NT-4/5 increased the survival of cultured cerebellar granule neurons. BDNF and NT-4/5 also induced an autophosphorylation of TrkB receptors and subsequently resulted in a phosphorylation and binding of phospholipase C-γ (PLC-γ) and SH2-containing sequence to the autophosphorylated TrkB receptors. Both contain src homology 2 (SH2) regions. In keeping with a signaling function of PLC-γ, BDNF increased the phosphatidylinositol (PI) turnover and elevated intracellular calcium levels. To investigate the involvement of protein kinase C (PKC) in the survival of granular neurons, we show here activation of PKC after BDNF or TPA treatment and blocking of the observed survival-promoting effects of BDNF and TPA with calphostin C, a specific PKC inhibitor. In addition, BDNF activated c- ras in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that two different pathways, the c- ras and the PLC-γ pathway, are activated by TrkB receptors in primary neurons and that PKC activation is involved in the survival promoting effect of BDNF.     

B型酪氨酸激酶受体的轴浆转运

脑源性神经营养因子(brain-derived neurotrophic factor,BDNF)在发育及成熟的中枢神经系统(central nervoussystem,CNS)中起到举足轻重的调节作用,而其中绝大部分作用由其B型酪氨酸激酶受体(tyrosine kinase receptortype B,TrkB)介导,因此TrkB在神经元中的轴浆转运过程显得尤为重要。本文从动力蛋白、潜在调节分子、细胞骨架蛋白等方面对TrkB轴浆转运分子机制的研究进展进行综述,并就其进一步研究提出一系列的问题与展望。     

Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Regulates TRPC3/6 Channels and Protects Against Myocardial Infarction in Rodents

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is associated with coronary artery diseases. However, its role and mechanism in myocardial infarction (MI) is not fully understood.Methods: Wistar rat and Kunming mouse model of MI were induced by the ligation of left coronary artery. Blood samples were collected from MI rats and patients. Plasma BDNF level, protein expression of BDNF, tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) and its downstream transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC)3/6 channels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot. Infarct size, cardiac function and cardiomyocyte apoptosis were measured after intra-myocardium injection with recombinant human BDNF. Protective role of BDNF against cardiomyocyte apoptosis was confirmed by BDNF scavenger TrkB-Fc. The regulation of TRPC3/6 channels by BDNF was validated by pretreating with TRPC blocker (2-Aminoethyl diphenylborinate, 2-APB) and TRPC3/6 siRNAs.Results: Circulating BDNF was significantly enhanced in MI rats and patients. Protein expression of BDNF, TrkB and TRPC3/6 channels were upregulated in MI. 3 days post-MI, BDNF treatment markedly reduced the infarct size and serum lactate dehydrogenase activity. Meanwhile, echocardiography indicated that BDNF significantly improved cardiac function of MI mice. Furthermore, BDNF markedly inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis by upregulating Bcl-2 expression and downregulating caspase-3 expression and activity in ischemic myocardium. In neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, cell viability was dramatically increased by BDNF in hypoxia, which was restored by TrkB-Fc. Furthermore, protective role of BDNF against hypoxia-induced apoptosis was reversed by 2-APB and TRPC3/6 siRNAs.Conclusion: BDNF/TrkB alleviated cardiac ischemic injury and inhibited cardiomyocytes apoptosis by regulating TRPC3/6 channels, which provides a novel potential therapeutic candidate for MI.     

Early exercise in spinal cord injured rats induces allodynia through TrkB signaling

Rehabilitation is important for the functional recovery of patients with spinal cord injury. However, neurological events associated with rehabilitation remain unclear. Herein, we investigated neuronal regeneration and exercise following spinal cord injury, and found that assisted stepping exercise of spinal cord injured rats in the inflammatory phase causes allodynia. Sprague-Dawley rats with thoracic spinal cord contusion injury were subjected to assisted stepping exercise 7 days following injury. Exercise promoted microscopic recovery of corticospinal tract neurons, but the paw withdrawal threshold decreased and C-fibers had aberrantly sprouted, suggesting a potential cause of the allodynia. Tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) receptor for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was expressed on aberrantly sprouted C-fibers. Blocking of BDNF-TrkB signaling markedly suppressed aberrant sprouting and decreased the paw withdrawal threshold. Thus, early rehabilitation for spinal cord injury may cause allodynia with aberrant sprouting of C-fibers through BDNF-TrkB signaling.     

Neuroprotection of immortalized hippocampal neurones by brain-derived neurotrophic factor and Raf-1 protein kinase: role of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase

We have investigated the molecular mechanisms of neurotrophin-mediated cell survival in HT22 cells, a murine cell line of hippocampal origin, expressing the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) receptor TrkB as well as the TrkB.T1 splice variant. Stimulation with BDNF protected HT22-TrkB cells, but not HT22-TrkB.T1 cells, against programmed cell death induced by serum deprivation. BDNF did not, however, provide protection against oxidative glutamate toxicity, indicating that serum deprivation-induced cell death differs substantially from glutamate-induced cell death. Using a pharmacological strategy to block either the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) or the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3) pathway, we show that activation of PI3 kinase is required for the neuroprotective activity of BDNF in HT22 cells. To further analyse the role of ERK in neuroprotection we expressed an inducible deltaRaf-1:ER fusion protein in HT22 cells. Activation of this conditionally active form of Raf-1 induced a sustained phosphorylation of ERK, and protected the cells from serum withdrawal-induced cell death. Inhibition of ERK activation at different time points revealed that a prolonged activation of ERK is essential to protect HT22 cells from cell death triggered by the withdrawal of serum, indicating that the duration of ERK activation is of major importance for its neuroprotective biological function.     

Neuropeptide orphanin FQ inhibits dendritic morphogenesis through activation of RhoA

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a facilitatory role in neuronal development and promotion of differentiation. Mechanisms that oppose BDNF's stimulatory effects create balance and regulate dendritic growth. However, these mechanisms have not been studied. We have focused our studies on the BDNF‐induced neuropeptide OrphaninFQ/ Nociceptin (OFQ); while BDNF is known to enhance synaptic activity, OFQ has opposite effects on activity, learning, and memory. We have now examined whether OFQ provides a balance to the stimulatory effects of BDNF on neuronal differentiation in the hippocampus. Golgi staining in OFQ knockout (KO) mice revealed an increase in primary dendrite length as well as spine density, suggesting that endogenous OFQ inhibits dendritic morphology. We have also used cultured hippocampal neurons to demonstrate that exogenous OFQ has an inhibitory effect on dendritic growth and that the neuropeptide alters the response to BDNF when pre‐administered. To determine if BDNF and OFQ act in a feedback loop, we inhibited the actions of the BDNF and OFQ receptors, TrkB and NOP using ANA‐12 and NOP KO mice respectively but our data suggest that the two factors do not act in a negative feedback loop. We found that the inhibition of dendritic morphology induced by OFQ is via enhanced RhoA activity. Finally, we have evidence that RhoA activation is required for the inhibitory effects of OFQ on dendritic morphology. Our results reveal basic mechanisms by which neurons not only regulate the formation of proper dendritic growth during development but also control plasticity in the mature nervous system. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 73: 769–784, 2013     

Combined brain‐derived neurotrophic factor with extinction training alleviate impaired fear extinction in an animal model of post‐traumatic stress disorder

Impaired fear memory extinction (Ext) is one of the hallmark symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, since the precise mechanism of impaired Ext remains unknown, effective interventions have not yet been established. Recently, hippocampal‐prefrontal brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) activity was shown to be crucial for Ext in naïve rats. We therefore examined whether decreased hippocampal‐prefrontal BDNF activity is also involved in the Ext of rats subjected to a single prolonged stress (SPS) as a model of PTSD. BDNF levels were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and phosphorylation of TrkB was measured by immunohistochemistry in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of SPS rats. We also examined whether BDNF infusion into the ventral mPFC or hippocampus alleviated the impaired Ext of SPS rats in the contextual fear conditioning paradigm. SPS significantly decreased the levels of BDNF in both the hippocampus and mPFC and TrkB phosphorylation in the ventral mPFC. Infusion of BDNF 24 hours after conditioning in the infralimbic cortex (ILC), but not the prelimbic cortex (PLC) nor hippocampus, alleviated the impairment of Ext. Since amelioration of impaired Ext by BDNF infusion did not occur without extinction training, it seems the two interventions must occur consecutively to alleviate impaired Ext. Additionally, BDNF infusion markedly increased TrkB phosphorylation in the ILC of SPS rats. These findings suggest that decreased BDNF signal transduction might be involved in the impaired Ext of SPS rats, and that activation of the BDNF‐TrkB signal might be a novel therapeutic strategy for the impaired Ext by stress.     

The spinal cord expression of neuronal and inducible nitric oxide synthases and their contribution in the maintenance of neuropathic pain in mice

Background

Nitric oxide generated by neuronal (NOS1), inducible (NOS2) or endothelial (NOS3) nitric oxide synthases contributes to pain processing, but the exact role of NOS1 and NOS2 in the maintenance of chronic peripheral neuropathic pain as well as the possible compensatory changes in their expression in the spinal cord of wild type (WT) and NOS knockout (KO) mice at 21 days after total sciatic nerve ligation remains unknown.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The mechanical and thermal allodynia as well as thermal hyperalgesia induced by sciatic nerve injury was evaluated in WT, NOS1-KO and NOS2-KO mice from 1 to 21 days after surgery. The mRNA and protein levels of NOS1, NOS2 and NOS3 in the spinal cord of WT and KO mice, at 21 days after surgery, were also assessed. Sciatic nerve injury led to a neuropathic syndrome in WT mice, in contrast to the abolished mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia as well as the decreased or suppressed thermal allodynia observed in NOS1-KO and NOS2-KO animals, respectively. Sciatic nerve injury also increases the spinal cord expression of NOS1 and NOS2 isoforms, but not of NOS3, in WT and NOS1-KO mice respectively. Moreover, the presence of NOS2 is required to increase the spinal cord expression of NOS1 whereas an increased NOS1 expression might avoid the up-regulation of NOS2 in the spinal cord of nerve injured WT mice.

Conclusions/Significance

These data suggest that the increased spinal cord expression of NOS1, regulated by NOS2, might be responsible for the maintenance of chronic peripheral neuropathic pain in mice and propose these enzymes as interesting therapeutic targets for their treatment.     

BDNF promoted osteoblast migration and fracture healing by up‐regulating integrin β1 via TrkB‐mediated ERK1/2 and AKT signalling

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been reported to participate in fracture healing, whereas the mechanism is still unclear. Since osteoblast migration is important for fracture healing, investigating effects of BDNF on osteoblasts migration may help to reveal its mechanism. Here, MC3T3‐E1 cells were used in vitro while closed femur fracture mice were applied in vivo. Cells migration was assessed with Transwell assay. The protein expression was analysed by immunoblotting. X‐ray and Micro‐CT were performed at different time after fracture. Our results showed that BDNF promoted MC3T3‐E1 cells migration, integrin β1 expression and ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation. K252a, a specific inhibitor for TrkB, suppressed BDNF‐induced migration, integrin β1 expression and activation of ERK1/2 and AKT. PD98059 (an ERK1/2 inhibitor) and LY294002 (an AKT inhibitor) both inhibited BDNF‐induced migration and integrin β1 expression while integrin β1 blocking antibody only suppressed cell migration. X‐ray and Micro‐CT analyses showed that the adenoviral carried integrin β1 shRNA group had slower fracture healing at 7 and 21 days, but not 35 days compared to the control group. Thus, we proposed that BDNF stimulated MC3T3‐E1 cells migration by up‐regulating integrin β1 via TrkB mediated ERK1/2 and AKT signalling, and this may help to enhance the fracture healing.     

BDNF Contributes to Spinal Long-Term Potentiation and Mechanical Hypersensitivity Via Fyn-Mediated Phosphorylation of NMDA Receptor GluN2B Subunit at Tyrosine 1472 in Rats Following Spinal Nerve Ligation

Previously we have demonstrated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) contributes to spinal long-term potentiation (LTP) and pain hypersensitivity through activation of GluN2B-containing N-methyl-d-aspartate (GluN2B-NMDA) receptors in rats following spinal nerve ligation (SNL). However, the molecular mechanisms by which BDNF impacts upon GluN2B-NMDA receptors and spinal LTP still remain unclear. In this study, we first documented that Fyn kinase-mediated phosphorylation of GluN2B subunit at tyrosine 1472 (pGluN2B^Y1472) was involved in BDNF-induced spinal LTP and pain hypersensitivity in intact rats. Second, we revealed a co-localization of Fyn and GluN2B-NMDA receptor in cultured dorsal horn neurons, implying that Fyn is a possible intermediate kinase linking BDNF/TrkB signaling with GluN2B-NMDA receptors in the spinal dorsal horn. Furthermore, we discovered that both SNL surgery and intrathecal active Fyn could induce an increased expression of dorsal horn pGluN2B^Y1472, as well as pain hypersensitivity in response to von Frey filaments stimuli; and more importantly, all these actions were effectively abrogated by pre-treatment with either PP2 or ifenprodil to respectively inhibit Fyn kinase and GluN2B-NMDA receptors activity. Moreover, we found that intrathecal administration of BDNF scavenger TrkB-Fc prior to SNL surgery, could prevent the nerve injury-induced increase of both pFyn^Y420 and pGluN2B^Y1472 expression, and also inhibit the mechanical allodynia in neuropathic rats. Collectively, these results suggest that Fyn kinase-mediated pGluN2B^Y1472 is critical for BDNF-induced spinal LTP and pain hypersensitivity in SNL rats. Therefore, the BDNF-Fyn-GluN2B signaling cascade in the spinal dorsal horn may constitute a key mechanism underlying central sensitization and neuropathic pain development after peripheral nerve injury.     

Possible role of duration of PKC-induced ERK activation in the effects of agonists and phorbol esters on DNA synthesis in Panc-1 cells

Protein kinase C (PKC) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) have been implicated in the effects of regulatory peptides on proliferation. We studied how ERK was activated by PKC following regulatory peptide or phorbol ester stimulation and we also investigated the effect of ERK activation on proliferation in Panc-1 cells. Panc-1 cells transfected with CCK1 receptors were treated with cholecystokinin (CCK), neurotensin (NT), or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). DNA synthesis was studied by measuring tritiated thymidine incorporation. PKC isoforms were selectively inhibited with G?6983 and 200 nM Ro-32-0432, their translocation was detected by confocal microscopy and by subcellular fractionation followed by immunoblotting. ERK cascade activation was detected with phosphoERK immunoblotting and inhibited with 20 microM PD98059. PMA and CCK inhibited, NT stimulated DNA synthesis. These effects were inhibited by Ro-32-0432 but not by G?6983 suggesting the involvement of PKCepsilon in proliferation control. Confocal microscopy and subcellular fractionation demonstrated that PMA, CCK, and NT caused cytosol to membrane translocation of PKCepsilon and ERK activation that was inhibited by Ro-32-0432 but not by G?6983. ERK activation was prolonged following PMA and CCK, but transient after NT treatment. PMA, CCK, and NT all activated cyclinD1, while p21CIP1 expression was increased by only PMA and CCK, but not by NT; each of these effects is inhibited by PD98059. In conclusion, our results provide evidence for PKCepsilon-mediated differential ERK activation and growth regulation in Panc-1C cells. Identification of the mechanisms by which these key signaling pathways are modulated could provide a basis for the development of novel therapeutic interventions to treat pancreatic cancer.