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Increased activation of synapsin 1 and mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinase in the amygdala of maternal separation rats.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Early life stress (ELS) causes alterations in emotionality and anxiety levels as a significant risk factor for psychiatric problems, and these alterations have been associated with amygdala activity. AIMS:To elucidate the molecular mechanism on the development of psychiatric problems following ELS, we identified the alteration of molecules in the amygdala using maternal separation (MS; pnd 14-21) rats through gene expression and DNA methylation microarray analysis, and studied the involvement of candidate genes using a Western blot and immunohistochemistry analysis. RESULTS:Through a microarray analysis, in the amygdala of MS rats, we found a downregulation of mRNA expression of synapsin 1 (Syn1) gene with hypermethylation of its transcription start site (TSS), and the alterations of mRNA expressions of Syn1 activation-related kinase genes including mitogen-activated protein kinases (Mapks) with change of their TSS methylation. In addition, MS increased not only Syn1 phosphorylation at the phosphorylation sites by Mapk/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk), but also Mapk/Erk phosphorylation in the amygdala. Furthermore, double immunofluorescence staining showed that MS could elevate phospho-Mapk/Erk immunoreactivity (IR) in Syn1-expression puncta. CONCLUSION:These findings indicated that the activation of Mapk/Erk and Syn1 may be a key mechanism modulating synaptic neurotransmition in the amygdala of MS rats.

SUBMITTER: Park HJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6493014 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Increased activation of synapsin 1 and mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinase in the amygdala of maternal separation rats.

Park Hae-Jeong HJ Kim Su-Kang SK Kang Won-Sub WS Chung Joo-Ho JH Kim Jong-Woo JW

CNS neuroscience & therapeutics 20131127 2

<h4>Background</h4>Early life stress (ELS) causes alterations in emotionality and anxiety levels as a significant risk factor for psychiatric problems, and these alterations have been associated with amygdala activity.<h4>Aims</h4>To elucidate the molecular mechanism on the development of psychiatric problems following ELS, we identified the alteration of molecules in the amygdala using maternal separation (MS; pnd 14-21) rats through gene expression and DNA methylation microarray analysis, and ...[more]

PMID: 24279756

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Project description:INTRODUCTION:We have previously demonstrated that transforming growth factor-? (TGF-?) in the presence of elevated levels of Smad3, its primary signaling protein, stimulates rat vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and intimal hyperplasia. The mechanism is partly through the nuclear exportation of phosphorylated cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27. The objective of this study is to clarify the downstream pathways through which Smad3 produces its proliferative effect. Specifically, we evaluated the role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in TGF-?-induced VSMC proliferation. METHODS:Cultured rat aortic VSMCs were incubated with TGF-? at varying concentrations and times, and phosphorylated ERK was measured by Western blotting. Smad3 was enhanced in VSMCs using an adenovirus expressing Smad3 or inhibited with small interfering RNA (siRNA). For in vivo experiments, male Sprague-Dawley rats underwent carotid balloon injury, followed by intraluminal infection with an adenovirus expressing Smad3. Arteries were harvested at 3 days and subjected to immunohistochemistry for Smad3, phospho-ERK MAPK, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. RESULTS:In cultured VSMCs, TGF-? induced activation and phosphorylation of ERK MAPK in a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner. Overexpression of the signaling protein Smad3 enhanced TGF-?-induced activation of ERK MAPK, whereas inhibition of Smad3 with a siRNA blocked ERK MAPK phosphorylation in response to TGF-?. These data suggest that Smad3 acts as a signaling intermediate between TGF-? and ERK MAPK. Inhibition of ERK MAPK activation with PD98059 completely blocked the ability of TGF-?/Smad3 to stimulate VSMC proliferation, demonstrating the importance of ERK MAPK in this pathway. Immunoprecipitation of phospho-ERK MAPK and blotting with Smad3 revealed a physical association, suggesting that activation of ERK MAPK by Smad3 requires a direct interaction. In an in vivo rat carotid injury model, overexpression of Smad3 resulted in an increase in phosphorylated ERK MAPK as well as increased VSMC proliferation as measured by proliferating cell nuclear antigen. CONCLUSIONS:Our findings demonstrate a mechanism through which TGF-? stimulates VSMC proliferation. Although TGF-? has been traditionally identified as an inhibitor of proliferation, our data suggest that TGF-? enhances VSMC proliferation through a Smad3/ERK MAPK signaling pathway. These findings at least partly explain the mechanism by which TGF-? enhances intimal hyperplasia. Knowledge of this pathway provides potential novel targets that may be used to prevent restenosis.

Dataset Information

Increased activation of synapsin 1 and mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinase in the amygdala of maternal separation rats.

Publications

Increased activation of synapsin 1 and mitogen-activated protein kinases/extracellular signal-regulated kinase in the amygdala of maternal separation rats.

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