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Mohanan AG, Gunasekaran S, Jacob RS, Omkumar RV. Role of Ca2+/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type II in Mediating Function and Dysfunction at Glutamatergic Synapses. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:855752. [PMID: 35795689 PMCID: PMC9252440 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.855752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutamatergic synapses harbor abundant amounts of the multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II (CaMKII). Both in the postsynaptic density as well as in the cytosolic compartment of postsynaptic terminals, CaMKII plays major roles. In addition to its Ca2+-stimulated kinase activity, it can also bind to a variety of membrane proteins at the synapse and thus exert spatially restricted activity. The abundance of CaMKII in glutamatergic synapse is akin to scaffolding proteins although its prominent function still appears to be that of a kinase. The multimeric structure of CaMKII also confers several functional capabilities on the enzyme. The versatility of the enzyme has prompted hypotheses proposing several roles for the enzyme such as Ca2+ signal transduction, memory molecule function and scaffolding. The article will review the multiple roles played by CaMKII in glutamatergic synapses and how they are affected in disease conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana G. Mohanan
- Neurobiology Division, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Sowmya Gunasekaran
- Neurobiology Division, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
- Research Scholar, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Reena Sarah Jacob
- Neurobiology Division, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
- Research Scholar, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - R. V. Omkumar
- Neurobiology Division, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
- *Correspondence: R. V. Omkumar,
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Zhang X, Zhang R, Wu J. Inhibition of the NR2B-PSD95 interaction exerts neuroprotective effects on retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Neuroscience 2022; 490:89-99. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.02.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Remya C, Dileep KV, Koti Reddy E, Mantosh K, Lakshmi K, Sarah Jacob R, Sajith AM, Jayadevi Variyar E, Anwar S, Zhang KYJ, Sadasivan C, Omkumar RV. Neuroprotective derivatives of tacrine that target NMDA receptor and acetyl cholinesterase - Design, synthesis and biological evaluation. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2021; 19:4517-4537. [PMID: 34471497 PMCID: PMC8379669 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2021.07.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex and multifactorial nature of neuropsychiatric diseases demands multi-target drugs that can intervene with various sub-pathologies underlying disease progression. Targeting the impairments in cholinergic and glutamatergic neurotransmissions with small molecules has been suggested as one of the potential disease-modifying approaches for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Tacrine, a potent inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is the first FDA approved drug for the treatment of AD. Tacrine is also a low affinity antagonist of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). However, tacrine was withdrawn from its clinical use later due to its hepatotoxicity. With an aim to develop novel high affinity multi-target directed ligands (MTDLs) against AChE and NMDAR, with reduced hepatotoxicity, we performed in silico structure-based modifications on tacrine, chemical synthesis of the derivatives and in vitro validation of their activities. Nineteen such derivatives showed inhibition with IC50 values in the range of 18.53 ± 2.09 – 184.09 ± 19.23 nM against AChE and 0.27 ± 0.05 – 38.84 ± 9.64 μM against NMDAR. Some of the selected compounds also protected rat primary cortical neurons from glutamate induced excitotoxicity. Two of the tacrine derived MTDLs, 201 and 208 exhibited in vivo efficacy in rats by protecting against behavioral impairment induced by administration of the excitotoxic agent, monosodium glutamate. Additionally, several of these synthesized compounds also exhibited promising inhibitory activitiy against butyrylcholinesterase. MTDL-201 was also devoid of hepatotoxicity in vivo. Given the therapeutic potential of MTDLs in disease-modifying therapy, our studies revealed several promising MTDLs among which 201 appears to be a potential candidate for immediate preclinical evaluations.
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Key Words
- AChE, acetylcholinesterase
- AChEIs, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
- AChT, acetylthiocholine
- AD, Alzheimer’s disease
- ADME, absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion
- Acetylcholinesterase
- Alzheimer’s disease
- BBB, blood brain barrier
- Ca2+, calcium
- ChE, Cholinesterases
- DMEM, Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium
- DTNB, 5,5-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid)
- ENM, elastic network modeling
- ER, endoplasmic reticulum
- FRET, fluorescence resonance energy transfer
- G6PD, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
- HBSS, Hank's balanced salt solution
- IP, intraperitoneal
- LBD, Ligand binding domain
- LC-MS, Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
- LiCABEDS, Ligand Classifier of Adaptively Boosting Ensemble Decision Stumps
- MAP2, microtubule associated protein 2
- MD, Molecular dynamics
- MTDLs
- MTDLs, multi-target directed ligands
- MWM, Morris water maze
- NBM, neurobasal medium
- NMA, normal mode analysis
- NMDA receptor
- NMDAR, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor
- Neuroprotection
- OPLS, Optimized potential for liquid simulations
- PBS, phosphate-buffered saline
- PFA, paraformaldehyde
- Polypharmacology
- RMSD, root mean square deviation
- SAR, structure-activity relationships
- SD, standard deviation
- SVM, support vector machine
- Structure-based drug design
- TBI, traumatic brain injury
- TMD, transmembrane domain
- Tacrine
- h-NMDAR, human NMDAR
- hAChE, human AChE
- ppm, parts per million
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandran Remya
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Kannur University, Dr. Janaki Ammal Campus, Thalassery, Kerala 670661, India
| | - K V Dileep
- Laboratory for Structural Bioinformatics, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan.,Laboratory for Computational and Structural Biology, Jubilee Center for Medical Research, Jubilee Mission Medical College and Research Institute, Thrissur, Kerala 680005, India
| | - Eeda Koti Reddy
- Division of Chemistry, Department of Sciences and Humanities, Vignan's Foundation for Sciences, Technology and Research -VFSTR (Deemed to be University), Vadlamudi, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh 522 213, India
| | - Kumar Mantosh
- Molecular Neurobiology Division, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695014, India
| | - Kesavan Lakshmi
- Molecular Neurobiology Division, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695014, India
| | - Reena Sarah Jacob
- Molecular Neurobiology Division, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695014, India
| | - Ayyiliyath M Sajith
- Post Graduate and Research Department of Chemistry, Kasargod Govt. College, Kannur University, Kasaragod, India
| | - E Jayadevi Variyar
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Kannur University, Dr. Janaki Ammal Campus, Thalassery, Kerala 670661, India
| | - Shaik Anwar
- Division of Chemistry, Department of Sciences and Humanities, Vignan's Foundation for Sciences, Technology and Research -VFSTR (Deemed to be University), Vadlamudi, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh 522 213, India
| | - Kam Y J Zhang
- Laboratory for Structural Bioinformatics, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro, Tsurumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - C Sadasivan
- Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Kannur University, Dr. Janaki Ammal Campus, Thalassery, Kerala 670661, India
| | - R V Omkumar
- Molecular Neurobiology Division, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud PO, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695014, India
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Kumar M, John M, Madhavan M, James J, Omkumar RV. Alteration in the phosphorylation status of NMDA receptor GluN2B subunit by activation of both NMDA receptor and L-type voltage gated calcium channel. Neurosci Lett 2019; 709:134343. [PMID: 31279915 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2019.134343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Calcium influx through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR) and voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) play major roles in postsynaptic signaling mechanisms. NMDAR subunit GluN2B is phosphorylated at Ser1303. Phosphorylation at this site is a prominent event in cell culture systems as well as in vivo. However, the functional significance of phosphorylation at this site is not completely understood. In this study, we compared the effect of calcium signaling through NMDAR and VGCC on the phosphorylation status of GluN2B-Ser1303 in the rat in vivo. VGCC was activated by intraperitoneal (IP) injection of the activator, BayK8644 and NMDAR was activated by intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of NMDA in separate experimental groups. We found that the level of phospho-GluN2B-Ser1303 in the cortex and in the hippocampus increased in response to activation of either channel. The effects could be prevented by prior ICV administration of the specific blockers of these channels such as MK-801 for NMDAR and nifedipine for VGCC. The effect was also blocked by pretreatment with ICV administration of KN-93 indicating that it is mediated through CaM kinase. Both during NMDAR activation and VGCC activation, cell survival associated signals such as phospho-AKT and phospho-CREB showed decrease, consistent with activation of cell death pathways during these treatments. We conclude that under in vivo conditions, calcium influx through either NMDAR or VGCC activates CaM kinase, which in turn phosphorylates GluN2B-Ser1303.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mantosh Kumar
- Molecular Neurobiology Division, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud, P.O., Thiruvananthapuram-695014, Kerala, India; Research Scholar, University of Kerala, India
| | - Mathew John
- Molecular Neurobiology Division, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud, P.O., Thiruvananthapuram-695014, Kerala, India
| | - Mayadevi Madhavan
- Molecular Neurobiology Division, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud, P.O., Thiruvananthapuram-695014, Kerala, India
| | - Jackson James
- Neuro Stem Cell Biology Lab, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, India
| | - Ramakrishnapillai V Omkumar
- Molecular Neurobiology Division, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thycaud, P.O., Thiruvananthapuram-695014, Kerala, India.
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5
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Liu J, Chang L, Song Y, Li H, Wu Y. The Role of NMDA Receptors in Alzheimer's Disease. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:43. [PMID: 30800052 PMCID: PMC6375899 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 234] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), early synaptic dysfunction is associated with the increased oligomeric amyloid-beta peptide, which causes NMDAR-dependent synaptic depression and spine elimination. Memantine, low-affinity NMDAR channel blocker, has been used in the treatment of moderate to severe AD. However, clear evidence is still deficient in demonstrating the underlying mechanisms and a relationship between NMDARs dysfunction and AD. This review focuses on not only changes in expression of different NMDAR subunits, but also some unconventional modes of NMDAR action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinping Liu
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Lirong Chang
- Department of Anatomy, Ministry of Science and Technology Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yizhi Song
- Department of Anatomy, Ministry of Science and Technology Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Anatomy, Ministry of Science and Technology Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Wu
- Department of Anatomy, Ministry of Science and Technology Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Wan C, Wu M, Zhang S, Chen Y, Lu C. α7nAChR-mediated recruitment of PP1γ promotes TRAF6/NF-κB cascade to facilitate the progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Mol Carcinog 2018; 57:1626-1639. [PMID: 30074282 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2017] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The cholinergic signaling pathways have been recently implicated in the development of various human cancers. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unclear. In the present study, we reported that α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR), an important member of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, interacts with Protein Phosphatase-1γ (PP1γ) in human Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) tissues. In addition, we found that α7nAChR facilitates the ubiquitination and activation of TRAF6 in a PP1γ-dependent manner in HCC cells. Furthermore, we showed that ligand-bounded α7nAChR induces the degradation of IκBα, leading to resultant phosphorylation and nuclear accumulation of NF-κB p65. Accordingly, acetylcholine triggers the expression of critical NF-κB target genes, such as Cyclin D1 and PCNA, as well as the proliferation of HCC cells in a PP1γ- and α7nAChR-dependent manner. Furthermore, we revealed that nicotine-triggered α7nAChR activation promotes oncosphere formation and in vivo tumor growth of HCC cells. Moreover, we showed that the protein levels of both α7nAChR and PP1γ are significantly upregulated in human HCC specimens compared with adjacent non-cancerous ones, and that upregulated expression of the two proteins predict significantly worsened prognosis in HCC patients. These findings together indicate that the cholinergic receptor α7nAChR exerts a facilitating role in HCC development through PP1γ-dependent TRAF6/NF-κB signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhua Wan
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Miaomiao Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Shusen Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Xing Tai People Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Xingtai, Hebei, China
| | - Yuyan Chen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical College, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Cuihua Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
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7
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Baucum AJ. Proteomic Analysis of Postsynaptic Protein Complexes Underlying Neuronal Plasticity. ACS Chem Neurosci 2017; 8:689-701. [PMID: 28211672 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.7b00008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Normal neuronal communication and synaptic plasticity at glutamatergic synapses requires dynamic regulation of postsynaptic molecules. Protein expression and protein post-translational modifications regulate protein interactions that underlie this organization. In this Review, we highlight data obtained over the last 20 years that have used qualitative and quantitative proteomics-based approaches to identify postsynaptic protein complexes. Herein, we describe how these proteomics studies have helped lay the foundation for understanding synaptic physiology and perturbations in synaptic signaling observed in different pathologies. We also describe emerging technologies that can be useful in these analyses. We focus on protein complexes associated with the highly abundant and functionally critical proteins: calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, the N-methyl-d-aspartate, and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid glutamate receptors, and postsynaptic density protein of 95 kDa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J. Baucum
- Department of Biology, Stark Neurosciences
Research Institute, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 723 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
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Foley TD, Katchur KM, Gillespie PF. Disulfide Stress Targets Modulators of Excitotoxicity in Otherwise Healthy Brains. Neurochem Res 2016; 41:2763-2770. [PMID: 27350580 DOI: 10.1007/s11064-016-1991-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Oxidative stress is a long-hypothesized cause of diverse neurological and psychiatric disorders but the pathways by which physiological redox perturbations may detour healthy brain development and aging are unknown. We reported recently (Foley et al., Neurochem Res 39:2030-2039, 2014) that two-electron oxidations, to disulfides, of protein vicinal thiols can vary markedly in association with more modest oxidations of the glutathione redox couple in brains from healthy adolescent rats whereas levels of protein S-glutathionylation were low and unchanged. Here, we demonstrate that the selective oxidations of protein vicinal thiols, occurring only in the more oxidized brains under study, were linked specifically to a peroxide stress as evidenced by increased oxidations, to disulfides, of the presumed catalytic vicinal thiols of peroxiredoxins 1 and 2. Moreover, we identify the catalytic subunit(s) of Na+, K+-ATPase, tubulins, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and protein phosphatase 1, all of which can modulate glutamate neurotransmission and the vulnerability of neurons to excitotoxicity, as non-peroxidase proteins exhibiting prominent oxidations of vicinal thiols. The two-electron pathway, demonstrated here, linking physiological redox perturbations in otherwise healthy brains to protein determinants of excitotoxicity, suggests an alternative to free radical pathways by which oxidative stress may impact brain development and aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy D Foley
- Biochemistry Program, Department of Chemistry, University of Scranton, 800 Linden St., Scranton, PA, 18510, USA.
| | - Kristen M Katchur
- Biochemistry Program, Department of Chemistry, University of Scranton, 800 Linden St., Scranton, PA, 18510, USA
| | - Paul F Gillespie
- Biochemistry Program, Department of Chemistry, University of Scranton, 800 Linden St., Scranton, PA, 18510, USA
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Vieira MM, Schmidt J, Ferreira JS, She K, Oku S, Mele M, Santos AE, Duarte CB, Craig AM, Carvalho AL. Multiple domains in the C-terminus of NMDA receptor GluN2B subunit contribute to neuronal death following in vitro ischemia. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 89:223-34. [PMID: 26581639 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Global cerebral ischemia induces selective degeneration of specific subsets of neurons throughout the brain, particularly in the hippocampus and cortex. One of the major hallmarks of cerebral ischemia is excitotoxicity, characterized by overactivation of glutamate receptors leading to intracellular Ca(2+) overload and ultimately neuronal demise. N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) are considered to be largely responsible for excitotoxic injury due to their high Ca(2+) permeability. In the hippocampus and cortex, these receptors are most prominently composed of combinations of two GluN1 subunits and two GluN2A and/or GluN2B subunits. Due to the controversy regarding the differential role of GluN2A and GluN2B subunits in excitotoxic cell death, we investigated the role of GluN2B in the activation of pro-death signaling following an in vitro model of global ischemia, oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). For this purpose, we used GluN2B(-/-) mouse cortical cultures and observed that OGD-induced damage was reduced in these neurons, and partially prevented in wild-type rat neurons by a selective GluN2B antagonist. Notably, we found a crucial role of the C-terminal domain of the GluN2B subunit in triggering excitotoxic signaling. Indeed, expression of YFP-GluN2B C-terminus mutants for the binding sites to post-synaptic density protein 95 (PSD95), Ca(2+)-calmodulin kinase IIα (CaMKIIα) or clathrin adaptor protein 2 (AP2) failed to mediate neuronal death in OGD conditions. We focused on the GluN2B-CaMKIIα interaction and found a determinant role of this interaction in OGD-induced death. Inhibition or knock-down of CaMKIIα exerted a neuroprotective effect against OGD-induced death, whereas overexpression of this kinase had a detrimental effect. Importantly, in comparison with neurons overexpressing wild-type CaMKIIα, neurons overexpressing a mutant form of the kinase (CaMKII-I205K), unable to interact with GluN2B, were partially protected against OGD-induced damage. Taken together, our results identify crucial determinants in the C-terminal domain of GluN2B subunits in promoting neuronal death in ischemic conditions. These mechanisms underlie the divergent roles of the GluN2A- and GluN2B-NMDARs in determining neuronal fate in cerebral ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta M Vieira
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jeannette Schmidt
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; PDBEB - Doctoral Program in Experimental Biology and Biomedicine, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joana S Ferreira
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Kevin She
- Brain Research Centre and Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shinichiro Oku
- Brain Research Centre and Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Miranda Mele
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Armanda E Santos
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carlos B Duarte
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ann Marie Craig
- Brain Research Centre and Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ana Luísa Carvalho
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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Li DP, Zhou JJ, Pan HL. Endogenous casein kinase-1 modulates NMDA receptor activity of hypothalamic presympathetic neurons and sympathetic outflow in hypertension. J Physiol 2015; 593:4439-52. [PMID: 26174743 PMCID: PMC4594242 DOI: 10.1113/jp270831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 07/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Increased NMDA receptor activity and excitability of presympathetic neurons in the hypothalamus can increase sympathetic nerve discharges leading to hypertension. In this study, we determined how protein kinases and phosphatases are involved in regulating NMDA receptor activity and firing activity of presympathetic neurons in the hypothalamus in normotensive and hypertensive rats. We show that casein kinase-1 inhibition increases NMDA receptor activity and excitability of presympathetic neurons in the hypothalamus and augments sympathetic nerve discharges in normotensive, but not in hypertensive, rats. Our data indicate that casein kinase-1 tonically regulates NMDA receptor activity by interacting with casein kinase-2 and protein phosphatases in the hypothalamus and that imbalance of NMDA receptor phosphorylation can augment the excitability of hypothalamic presympathetic neurons and sympathetic nerve discharges in hypertension. These findings help us understand the neuronal mechanism of hypertension, and reducing the NMDA receptor phosphorylation level may be effective for treating neurogenic hypertension. ABSTRACT Increased N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) activity in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus is involved in elevated sympathetic outflow in hypertension. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying augmented NMDAR activity in hypertension remain unclear. In this study, we determined the role of casein kinase-1 (CK1) in regulating NMDAR activity in the PVN. NMDAR-mediated excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and puff NMDA-elicited currents were recorded in spinally projecting PVN neurons in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. The basal amplitudes of evoked NMDAR-EPSCs and puff NMDA currents were significantly higher in SHRs than in WKY rats. The CK1 inhibitor PF4800567 or PF670462 significantly increased the amplitude of NMDAR-EPSCs and puff NMDA currents in PVN neurons in WKY rats but not in SHRs. PF4800567 caused an NMDAR-dependent increase in the excitability of PVN neurons only in WKY rats. Also, the CK1ε protein level in the PVN was significantly lower in SHRs than in WKY rats. Furthermore, intracerebroventricular infusion of PF4800567 increased blood pressure and lumbar sympathetic nerve activity in WKY rats, and this effect was eliminated by microinjection of the NMDAR antagonist into the PVN. In addition, PF4800567 failed to increase NMDAR activity in brain slices of WKY rats pretreated with the protein phosphatase 1/2A, calcineurin, or casein kinase-2 inhibitor. Our findings suggest that CK1 tonically suppresses NMDAR activity in the PVN by reducing the NMDAR phosphorylation level. Diminished CK1 activity may contribute to potentiated glutamatergic synaptic input to PVN presympathetic neurons and elevated sympathetic vasomotor tone in neurogenic hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Pei Li
- Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jing-Jing Zhou
- Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Hui-Lin Pan
- Division of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Programs in Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, 77225, USA
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11
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Luo FQ, Liu JW, Tang SX, Zhao WL, Hu Y, Xu L, Li MY. Effects of maternal enflurane exposure on NR2B expression in the hippocampus of their offspring. BRAZ J PHARM SCI 2015. [DOI: 10.1590/s1984-82502015000300019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
This work aims to study the pathogenesis of learning and memory impairment in offspring rats resulting from maternal enflurane anesthesia by focusing on the expression of the N-methyl-d-aspartic acid receptor subunit 2B (NR2B) in the hippocampus of the offspring. Thirty female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: control (C group), 4 h enflurane exposure (E1 group), and 8 h enflurane exposure (E2 group) groups. Eight to ten days after the initiation of pregnancy, rats from the E1 and E2 groups were allowed to inhale 1.7% enflurane in 2 L/min oxygen for 4 h and 8 h, respectively. Rats from the C group were allowed to inhale 2 L/min of oxygen only. The Morris water maze was used to assay the learning and memory function of the offspring on postnatal days 20 and 30. RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry assays were then used to measure the mRNA levels and protein expression of NR2B, respectively. Relative to offspring rats from the C group, those from the E1 and E2 groups exhibited longer escape latencies, lesser number of crossings over the platform, and less time spent in the target quadrant in the spatial exploration test (P < 0.05). In addition, the mRNA and protein expression levels of NR2B in the hippocampus of offspring rats in the E1 and E2 groups were down-regulated (P < 0.05). No significant differences between the E1 and E2 groups were observed (P > 0.05) in terms of mRNA levels and protein expression of NR2B. The cognitive function of the offspring is impaired when maternal rats are exposed to enflurane during early pregnancy. A possible mechanism of this effect is related to the down-regulation of NR2B expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yan Hu
- Nanchang University, China
| | - Lin Xu
- Nanchang University, China
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12
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Zhang JJ, Han J, Sui N. Okadaic acid blocks the effects of 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine on consolidation, acquisition and retrieval of morphine-induced place preference in rats. Neuropharmacology 2014; 86:282-93. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2013] [Revised: 07/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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13
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Mirante O, Brandalise F, Bohacek J, Mansuy IM. Distinct molecular components for thalamic- and cortical-dependent plasticity in the lateral amygdala. Front Mol Neurosci 2014; 7:62. [PMID: 25071439 PMCID: PMC4080466 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2014.00062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR)-dependent long-term depression (LTD) in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA) is a form of synaptic plasticity thought to be a cellular substrate for the extinction of fear memory. The LA receives converging inputs from the sensory thalamus and neocortex that are weakened following fear extinction. Combining field and patch-clamp electrophysiological recordings in mice, we show that paired-pulse low-frequency stimulation can induce a robust LTD at thalamic and cortical inputs to LA, and we identify different underlying molecular components at these pathways. We show that while LTD depends on NMDARs and activation of the protein phosphatases PP2B and PP1 at both pathways, it requires NR2B-containing NMDARs at the thalamic pathway, but NR2C/D-containing NMDARs at the cortical pathway. LTD appears to be induced post-synaptically at the thalamic input but presynaptically at the cortical input, since post-synaptic calcium chelation and NMDAR blockade prevent thalamic but not cortical LTD. These results highlight distinct molecular features of LTD in LA that may be relevant for traumatic memory and its erasure, and for pathologies such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Osvaldo Mirante
- Brain Research Institute, Medical Faculty, University Zürich Zürich, Switzerland ; Department of Health Science and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Federico Brandalise
- Brain Research Institute, Medical Faculty, University Zürich Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Bohacek
- Brain Research Institute, Medical Faculty, University Zürich Zürich, Switzerland ; Department of Health Science and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Isabelle M Mansuy
- Brain Research Institute, Medical Faculty, University Zürich Zürich, Switzerland ; Department of Health Science and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich, Switzerland
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14
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Lai TW, Zhang S, Wang YT. Excitotoxicity and stroke: identifying novel targets for neuroprotection. Prog Neurobiol 2013; 115:157-88. [PMID: 24361499 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2013.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 780] [Impact Index Per Article: 70.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2013] [Revised: 11/28/2013] [Accepted: 11/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Excitotoxicity, the specific type of neurotoxicity mediated by glutamate, may be the missing link between ischemia and neuronal death, and intervening the mechanistic steps that lead to excitotoxicity can prevent stroke damage. Interest in excitotoxicity began fifty years ago when monosodium glutamate was found to be neurotoxic. Evidence soon demonstrated that glutamate is not only the primary excitatory neurotransmitter in the adult brain, but also a critical transmitter for signaling neurons to degenerate following stroke. The finding led to a number of clinical trials that tested inhibitors of excitotoxicity in stroke patients. Glutamate exerts its function in large by activating the calcium-permeable ionotropic NMDA receptor (NMDAR), and different subpopulations of the NMDAR may generate different functional outputs, depending on the signaling proteins directly bound or indirectly coupled to its large cytoplasmic tail. Synaptic activity activates the GluN2A subunit-containing NMDAR, leading to activation of the pro-survival signaling proteins Akt, ERK, and CREB. During a brief episode of ischemia, the extracellular glutamate concentration rises abruptly, and stimulation of the GluN2B-containing NMDAR in the extrasynaptic sites triggers excitotoxic neuronal death via PTEN, cdk5, and DAPK1, which are directly bound to the NMDAR, nNOS, which is indirectly coupled to the NMDAR via PSD95, and calpain, p25, STEP, p38, JNK, and SREBP1, which are further downstream. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the literature on excitotoxicity and our perspectives on how the new generation of excitotoxicity inhibitors may succeed despite the failure of the previous generation of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ted Weita Lai
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, 40402 Taichung, Taiwan; Translational Medicine Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, 2 Yu-De Road, 40447 Taichung, Taiwan.
| | - Shu Zhang
- Translational Medicine Research Center, China Medical University Hospital, 2 Yu-De Road, 40447 Taichung, Taiwan; Brain Research Center, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, V6T 2B5 Vancouver, Canada
| | - Yu Tian Wang
- Brain Research Center, University of British Columbia, 2211 Wesbrook Mall, V6T 2B5 Vancouver, Canada.
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15
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De Montigny A, Elhiri I, Allyson J, Cyr M, Massicotte G. NMDA reduces Tau phosphorylation in rat hippocampal slices by targeting NR2A receptors, GSK3β, and PKC activities. Neural Plast 2013; 2013:261593. [PMID: 24349798 PMCID: PMC3856160 DOI: 10.1155/2013/261593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2013] [Accepted: 09/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms that regulate Tau phosphorylation are complex and currently incompletely understood. In the present study, pharmacological inhibitors were deployed to investigate potential processes by which the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of glutamate receptors modulates Tau phosphorylation in rat hippocampal slices. Our results demonstrated that Tau phosphorylation at Ser199-202 residues was decreased in NMDA-treated hippocampal slices, an effect that was not reproduced at Ser262 and Ser404 epitopes. NMDA-induced reduction of Tau phosphorylation at Ser199-202 was further promoted when NR2A-containing receptors were pharmacologically isolated and were completely abrogated by the NR2A receptor antagonist NVP-AAM077. Compared with nontreated slices, we observed that NMDA receptor activation was reflected in high Ser9 and low Tyr216 phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β), suggesting that NMDA receptor activation might diminish Tau phosphorylation via a pathway involving GSK3β inhibition. Accordingly, we found that GSK3β inactivation by a protein kinase C- (PKC-) dependent mechanism is involved in the NMDA-induced reduction of Tau phosphorylation at Ser199-202 epitopes. Taken together, these data indicate that NR2A receptor activation may be important in limiting Tau phosphorylation by a PKC/GSK3β pathway and strengthen the idea that these receptors might act as an important molecular device counteracting neuronal cell death mechanisms in various pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrée De Montigny
- Groupe de Recherche en Neuroscience, Département de Biologie Médicale, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada G9A 5H7
| | - Ismaël Elhiri
- Groupe de Recherche en Neuroscience, Département de Biologie Médicale, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada G9A 5H7
| | - Julie Allyson
- Groupe de Recherche en Neuroscience, Département de Biologie Médicale, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada G9A 5H7
| | - Michel Cyr
- Groupe de Recherche en Neuroscience, Département de Biologie Médicale, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada G9A 5H7
| | - Guy Massicotte
- Groupe de Recherche en Neuroscience, Département de Biologie Médicale, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC, Canada G9A 5H7
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16
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Baucum AJ, Brown AM, Colbran RJ. Differential association of postsynaptic signaling protein complexes in striatum and hippocampus. J Neurochem 2013; 124:490-501. [PMID: 23173822 PMCID: PMC3557548 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.12101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2012] [Revised: 11/19/2012] [Accepted: 11/20/2012] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Distinct physiological stimuli are required for bidirectional synaptic plasticity in striatum and hippocampus, but differences in the underlying signaling mechanisms are poorly understood. We have begun to compare levels and interactions of key excitatory synaptic proteins in whole extracts and subcellular fractions isolated from micro-dissected striatum and hippocampus. Levels of multiple glutamate receptor subunits, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), a highly abundant serine/threonine kinase, and spinophilin, a F-actin and protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) binding protein, were significantly lower in striatal extracts, as well as in synaptic and/or extrasynaptic fractions, compared with similar hippocampal extracts/fractions. However, CaMKII interactions with spinophilin were more robust in striatum compared with hippocampus, and this enhanced association was restricted to the extrasynaptic fraction. NMDAR GluN2B subunits associate with both spinophilin and CaMKII, but spinophilin-GluN2B complexes were enriched in extrasynaptic fractions whereas CaMKII-GluN2B complexes were enriched in synaptic fractions. Notably, the association of GluN2B with both CaMKII and spinophilin was more robust in striatal extrasynaptic fractions compared with hippocampal extrasynaptic fractions. Selective differences in the assembly of synaptic and extrasynaptic signaling complexes may contribute to differential physiological regulation of excitatory transmission in striatum and hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony J Baucum
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
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17
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Role of nonsynaptic GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors in excitotoxicity: evidence that fluoxetine selectively inhibits these receptors and may have neuroprotective effects. Brain Res Bull 2012; 93:32-8. [PMID: 23089362 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2012.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2012] [Revised: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 10/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In acute ischaemic brain injury and chronic neurodegeneration, the primary step leading to excitotoxicity and cell death is the excessive and/or prolonged activation of glutamate (Glu) receptors, followed by intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) overload. These steps lead to several effects: a persistent depolarisation of neurons, mitochondrial dysfunction resulting in energy failure, an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), an increase in the concentration of cytosolic Ca(2+) [Ca(2+)]i, increased mitochondrial Ca(2+) uptake, and the activation of self-destructing enzymatic mechanisms. Antagonists for NMDA receptors (NMDARs) are expected to display neuroprotective effects, but no evidence to support this hypothesis has yet been reported. A number of clinical trials using NMDAR antagonists have failed to demonstrate neuroprotective effects, either by reducing brain injury or by preventing neurodegeneration. Recent advances in NMDAR research have provided an explanation for this phenomenon. Synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDARs are composed of different subunits (GluN2A and GluN2B) that demonstrate opposing effects. Synaptic GluN2A-containing and extrasynaptic GluN2B-containing NMDARs have different co-agonists: d-serine for synaptic NMDARs and glycine for extrasynaptic NMDARs. Both co-agonists are of glial origin. The mechanisms of cell destruction or cell survival in response to the activation of NMDAR receptors depend in part on [Ca(2+)]i and the route of entry of this ion and more significantly on the subunit composition and localisation of the NMDARs. While synaptic NMDAR activation is involved in neuroprotection, the stimulation of extrasynaptic NMDARs, which are composed of GluN2B subunits, triggers cell destruction pathways and may play a key role in the neurodegeneration associated with Glu-induced excitotoxicity. In addition, it has been found that synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDA receptors have opposing effects in determining the fate of neurons. This result has led to the targeting of nonsynaptic GluN2B-containing NMDARs as promising candidates for drug research. Under hypoxic conditions, it is likely that the failure of synaptic glutamatergic transmission, the impairment of the GluN2A-activated neuroprotective cascade, and the persistent over-activation of extrasynaptic GluN2B-containing NMDARs lead to excitotoxicity. Fluoxetine, a drug widely used in clinical practice as an antidepressant, has been found to selectively block GluNR2B-containing NMDARs. Therefore, it seems to be a potential candidate for neuroprotection.
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