Silvia Di Prisco

The Effects of Antidepressant Treatment in Prenatally Stressed Rats Support the Glutamatergic Hypothesis of Stress-Related Disorders

Abnormalities of synaptic transmission in the hippocampus represent an integral part of the altered programming triggered by early life stress, which enhances the vulnerability to stress-related disorders in the adult life. Rats exposed to prenatal restraint stress (PRS) develop enduring biochemical and behavioral changes characteristic of an anxious/depressive-like phenotype. Most neurochemical abnormalities in PRS rats are found in the ventral hippocampus, a region that encodes memories related to stress and emotions. We have recently demonstrated a causal link between the reduction of glutamate release in the ventral hippocampus and anxiety-like behavior in PRS rats. To confer pharmacological validity to the glutamatergic hypothesis of stress-related disorders, we examined whether chronic treatment with two antidepressants with different mechanisms of action could correct the defect in glutamate release and associated behavioral abnormalities in PRS rats. Adult unstressed or PRS rats were treated daily with either agomelatine (40 mg/kg, i.p.) or fluoxetine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) for 21 d. Both treatments reversed the reduction in depolarization-evoked glutamate release and in the expression of synaptic vesicle-associated proteins in the ventral hippocampus of PRS rats. Antidepressant treatment also corrected abnormalities in anxiety-/depression-like behavior and social memory performance in PRS rats. The effect on glutamate release was strongly correlated with the improvement of anxiety-like behavior and social memory. These data offer the pharmacological demonstration that glutamatergic hypofunction in the ventral hippocampus lies at the core of the pathological phenotype caused by early life stress and represents an attractive pharmacological target for novel therapeutic strategies.

In vitro exposure to nicotine induces endocytosis of presynaptic AMPA receptors modulating dopamine release in rat nucleus accumbens nerve terminals.

Here we provide functional and immunocytochemical evidence supporting the presence on Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) dopaminergic terminals of cyclothiazide-sensitive, alfa-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolone propionate (AMPA) receptors, which activation causes Ca²⁺-dependent [³H]dopamine ([³H]DA) exocytosis. These AMPA receptors cross-talk with co-localized nicotinic receptors (nAChRs), as suggested by the finding that in vitro short-term pre-exposure of synaptosomes to 30 μM nicotine caused a significant reduction of both the 30 μM nicotine and the 100 μM AMPA-evoked [³H]DA overflow. Entrapping pep2-SVKI, a peptide known to compete for the binding of GluA2 subunit to scaffolding proteins involved in AMPA receptor endocytosis, in NAC synaptosomes prevented the nicotine-induced reduction of AMPA-mediated [³H]DA exocytosis, while pep2-SVKE, used as negative control, was inefficacious. Immunocytochemical studies showed that a significant percentage of NAc terminals were dopaminergic and that most of these terminals also posses GluA2 receptor subunits. Western blot analysis of GluA2 immunoreactivity showed that presynaptic GluA2 proteins in NAc terminals were reduced in nicotine-pretreated synaptosomes when compared to the control. The nACh-AMPA receptor-receptor interaction was not limited to dopaminergic terminals since nicotine pre-exposure also affected the presynaptic AMPA receptors controlling hippocampal noradrenaline release, but not the presynaptic AMPA receptors controlling GABA and acetylcholine release. These observations could be relevant to the comprehension of the molecular mechanisms at the basis of nicotine rewarding.

RANTES-mediated control of excitatory amino acid release in mouse spinal cord

J. Neurochem. (2012) 121, 428–437.

Presynaptic c-Jun N-terminal Kinase 2 regulates NMDA receptor-dependent glutamate release

Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway is a critical step for neuronal death occurring in several neurological conditions. JNKs can be activated via receptor tyrosine kinases, cytokine receptors, G-protein coupled receptors and ligand-gated ion channels, including the NMDA glutamate receptors. While JNK has been generally associated with postsynaptic NMDA receptors, its presynaptic role remains largely unexplored. Here, by means of biochemical, morphological and functional approaches, we demonstrate that JNK and its scaffold protein JIP1 are also expressed at the presynaptic level and that the NMDA-evoked glutamate release is controlled by presynaptic JNK-JIP1 interaction. Moreover, using knockout mice for single JNK isoforms, we proved that JNK2 is the essential isoform in mediating this presynaptic event. Overall the present findings unveil a novel JNK2 localization and function, which is likely to play a role in different physiological and pathological conditions.

Hippocampal AMPA autoreceptors positively coupled to NMDA autoreceptors traffic in a constitutive manner and undergo adaptative changes following enriched environment training.

α-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA) autoreceptors exist on glutamate hippocampal terminals. Aimed at investigating whether these autoreceptors traffic constitutively, (S)AMPA-evoked [(3)H]D-ASP release from synaptosomes enriched with peptides that impede the interaction of GluA2 subunits with cytosolic proteins involved in receptor movements [namely Glutamate Receptor-Interacting Protein (GRIP), Protein Interacting with C kinase 1 (PICK1), N-ethyl-maleimide-Sensitive Fusion protein NSF proteins] was monitored. (S)AMPA alone had no effect on the spontaneous release of [(3)H]D-ASP from control synaptosomes, but became efficacious in the presence of cyclothiazide or when preventing GluA2/GRIP/PICK1, but not GluA2/NSF, interaction. Hippocampal glutamatergic terminals also possess NMDA autoreceptors. 10 μM NMDA/1 μM glycine-induced [(3)H]D-ASP release was concentration-dependently increased by (S)AMPA. Cyclothiazide potentiated the 10 μM NMDA/1 μM glycine/50 μM (S)AMPA-induced [(3)H]D-ASP overflow, while NBQX halved and MK-801 abolished it, suggesting NMDA-AMPA autoreceptor cross-talk. Western Blot analysis of sub-synaptic fractions confirmed presynaptic GluN2B-GluA2/3 co-localization. Impeding GluA2/GRIP/PICK1 interaction facilitated the NMDA/glycine/(S)AMPA-induced release of [(3)H]D-ASP, while competing for GluA2/NSF interaction reduced it, indicating that NMDA receptor favours AMPA receptor insertion in synaptosomal plasmamembranes. Finally, rearing mice in enriched environment unveiled the (S)AMPA-induced release of [(3)H]D-ASP, but leaved unmodified that caused by NMDA/glycine. The NBQX-sensitive, 50 μM (S)AMPA-evoked release of [(3)H]D-ASP was insensitive to cyclothiazide and to peptide interfering with GluA2/GRIP/PICK1 interaction but was addictive to that caused by NMDA/glycine. Presynaptic GluA2/3 immunoreactivity in EE hippocampal terminals was increased, while GluN2B was unchanged. We conclude that hippocampal AMPA autoreceptors positively coupled to NMDA autoreceptors traffic in a constitutive manner and undergo functional up-regulation in EE animals.

Ionic dysregulations typical of ischemia provoke release of glycine and GABA by multiple mechanisms.

J. Neurochem. (2010) 114, 1074–1084.

Acute desipramine restores presynaptic cortical defects in murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by suppressing central CCL5 overproduction

Altered glutamate exocytosis and cAMP production in cortical terminals of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice occur at the early stage of disease (13 days post‐immunization, d.p.i.). Neuronal defects were paralleled by overexpression of the central chemokine CCL5 (also known as RANTES), suggesting it has a role in presynaptic impairments. We propose that drugs able to restore CCL5 content to physiological levels could also restore presynaptic defects. Because of its efficacy in controlling CCL5 overexpression, desipramine (DMI) appeared to be a suitable candidate to test our hypothesis.

Glycine release provoked by disturbed Na+, K+ and Ca2+ homeostasis in cerebellar nerve endings: roles of Ca2+ channels, Na+/Ca2+ exchangers and GlyT2 transporter reversal

J. Neurochem. (2011) 119, 50–63.

CXCR4 and NMDA Receptors Are Functionally Coupled in Rat Hippocampal Noradrenergic and Glutamatergic Nerve Endings

Previous studies had shown that the HIV-1 capsidic glycoprotein gp120 (strain IIIB) modulates presynaptic release-regulating NMDA receptors on noradrenergic and glutamatergic terminals. This study aims to assess whether the chemokine CXC4 receptors (CXCR4s) has a role in the gp120-mediated effects. The effect of CXCL12, the endogenous ligand at CXCR4, on the NMDA-mediated releasing activity was therefore investigated. Rat hippocampal synaptosomes were preloaded with [3H]noradrenaline ([3H]NA) or [3H]D-aspartate ([3H]D-Asp) and acutely exposed to CXCL12, to NMDA or to both agonists. CXCL12, inactive on its own, facilitated the NMDA-evoked tritium release. The NMDA antagonist MK-801 abolished the NMDA/CXCL12-evoked tritium release of both radiolabelled tracers, while the CXCR4 antagonist AMD 3100 halved it, suggesting that rat hippocampal nerve endings possess presynaptic release-regulating CXCR4 receptors colocalized with NMDA receptors. Accordingly, Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of CXCR4 proteins in synaptosomal plasmamembranes. In both synaptosomal preparations, CXCL12-induced facilitation of NMDA-mediated release was dependent upon PLC-mediated src-induced events leading to mobilization of Ca2+ from intraterminal IP3-sensitive stores Finally, the gp120-induced facilitation of NMDA-mediated release of [3H]NA and [3H]D-Asp was prevented by AMD 3100. We propose that CXCR4s are functionally coupled to NMDA receptors in rat hippocampal noradrenergic and glutamatergic terminals and account for the gp120-induced modulation of the NMDA-mediated central effects. The NMDA/CXCR4 cross-talk could have a role in the neuropsychiatric symptoms often observed in HIV-1 positive patients.

Presynaptic, release-regulating mGlu2 -preferring and mGlu3 -preferring autoreceptors in CNS: pharmacological profiles and functional roles in demyelinating disease.

Presynaptic, release‐regulating metabotropic glutamate 2 and 3 (mGlu2/3) autoreceptors exist in the CNS. They represent suitable targets for therapeutic approaches to central diseases that are typified by hyperglutamatergicity. The availability of specific ligands able to differentiate between mGlu2 and mGlu3 subunits allows us to further characterize these autoreceptors. In this study we investigated the pharmacological profile of mGlu2/3 receptors in selected CNS regions and evaluated their functions in mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).