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First published on April 4, 2006; DOI: 10.1124/mol.105.021998


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Mol Pharmacol 70:71-77, 2006

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Receptor Regulation of Gene Expression of Axon Guidance Molecules: Implications for Adaptation

Amy K. Jassen, Hong Yang, Gregory M. Miller, Elizabeth Calder, and Bertha K. Madras

Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School and the Division of Neurochemistry, New England Primate Research Center, Southborough, Massachusetts

Received December 22, 2005; accepted April 4, 2006


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Axon guidance molecules, critical for neurodevelopment, are also implicated in morphological and other neurodaptative changes mediated by physiological or pharmacological events in adult brain. As an example, the psychostimulant cocaine markedly alters axon guidance molecules in adult brain of cocaine-treated rats. To decipher a potential link between drug-induced activation of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and modulation of axon guidance molecules, we investigated whether GPCR activity in a SK-N-MC human neuroepithelioma cell line (which expresses low levels of D1 dopamine receptors) affects gene expression of axon guidance molecules (semaphorins, ephrins, netrins, and their receptors). Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, we identified 17 of 26 axon guidance molecules in these cells, with varying levels of expression. Forskolin, which raised intracellular cAMP levels 340%, increased EphA5, EphB2, and Neuropilin1 expression, paralleling reported changes in the rat hippocampus after cocaine treatment. The dopamine receptor agonist dihydrexidine, which raised cAMP levels 22%, promoted regulatory changes in EphrinA1, EphrinA5, EphB1, DCC, and Semaphorin3C, whereas (±)-6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrobromide (SKF81297) altered EphA5, EphrinA1, EphrinA5, and neuropilin1. cAMP and other signal transduction pathways may regulate gene expression of axon guidance molecules, potentially linking monoamine receptor activation to signal transduction cascades, transcriptional regulation of axon guidance molecules, and alterations in neural networks.


The pathfinding of axons is a tightly regulated process, guided by signaling of axon guidance molecules (ephrins, netrins, slits, and semaphorins), a family of relatively high molecular weight receptors and associated ligands (Song and Poo, 2001). Neurodevelopment is the most extensively documented function of the axon guidance molecules, because their topographic guidance facilitates boundary and synapse formation, cell migration and axon guidance (Zhou, 1998Go; Klein, 2001Go; Knoll and Drescher, 2002Go). Axon guidance molecules are also expressed in adult brain and may contribute to synaptic function, neuroadaptation, and response to brain injury (Gerlai, 2001Go; Hafner et al., 2004Go; Yamaguchi and Pasquale, 2004Go; Xiao et al., 2006Go). In the context of synaptic signaling, EphB receptor activity is essential for dendritic spine morphogenesis (Murai et al., 2003Go; Penzes et al., 2003Go) and plasticity in synaptic signaling (Dalva et al., 2000Go; Gerlai, 2001Go; Contractor et al., 2002Go; Grunwald et al., 2004Go).

Axon guidance molecules are also implicated in adaptive responses to the psychostimulant drug cocaine in adult brain, because cocaine promotes significant changes in gene expression of axon guidance molecules, in a dosing regimen- and brain region–specific manner (Yue et al., 1999Go; Halladay et al., 2000Go; Bahi and Dreyer, 2005Go). Cocaine is an indirect agonist at dopamine and glutamate receptors, which are associated with promoting cocaine-induced behavioral effects and intracellular neuroadaptive cascades (Wolf et al., 2003Go; Kalivas, 2004Go). Whereas these intriguing findings establish a potential causality between drug-induced receptor activity and changes in gene expression of axon guidance molecules, no direct evidence links changes in receptor activity or signaling with modulation of gene expression of axon guidance molecules. We postulate that activation of GPCRs or augmentation of cAMP levels could alter gene expression of axon guidance molecules. To decipher this potential link, we investigated whether forskolin-mediated elevation of cAMP or activation of GPCRs by monoamine receptor agonists (dihydrexidine or SKF81297) changes expression of genes encoding axon guidance molecules. Our results support the underlying hypothesis that modulation of receptor activity or cAMP levels promotes adaptive responses in gene expression of axon guidance molecules. It is conceivable that our novel findings offer a molecular mechanism by which neurotransmitter or drug-receptor interaction may contribute to neuroadaptation relevant to synaptic strength, neuronal morphology, and neural networks.


    Materials and Methods
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 Abstract
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Cell Culture and Drug Treatment. SK-N-MC neuroepithelioma cells were obtained from American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, VA) and cultured according to the recommended conditions. Cells were seeded at 5.5 x 105 per well of a six-well tissue culture plate (Costar; Corning Life Sciences, Acton, MA). Two days later, the media was changed to serum free overnight followed by a 6-h treatment with 10 µM forskolin (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO), 10 µM dihydrexidine (a gift from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health), 10 µM dihydrexidine plus 50 µM SCH23390 (Sigma-Aldrich), 10 µM dihydrexidine plus 50 µM eticlopride (Sigma-Aldrich) or vehicle (0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide), 10 µM SKF81297 (Sigma-Aldrich), or 10 µM SCH 39166 (a gift from Schering-Plough). The drugs were removed and cells were lysed by the addition of 800 µl of TRIzol Reagent (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) per well. RNA isolation and reverse transcription were carried out using Superscript III reverse transcriptase and oligo-dTs (Invitrogen).

Axon Guidance Molecule Analysis: Real-Time Reverse Transcription-PCR and Western Blot. Real time PCR was carried out using a Roche Light Cycler 2.0 system (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN). Synthesized cDNA was diluted to 20 ng/µl and used at 50 ng per reaction. The Taqman Master kit in combination with the Universal Probe Library (Human) was used to assess gene expression (generously supplied by Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN and Penzberg, Germany). PCR primers for Taqman/Probe Library assays were designed with the Probe Library Assay Design Center (http://www.roche-applied-science.com/sis/rtpcr/upl/adc.jsp). Two reference genes were used to normalize cDNA across samples: beta-actin (NM_001101 [GenBank] ) and hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMBS; NM_000190 [GenBank] ). Analysis of real-time PCR data was done using the {Delta}{Delta}Ct method: {Delta}Ct = Cttarget gene – CtHOUSEKEEPING GENE gene, {Delta}{Delta}Ct = {Delta}Cttreated {Delta}Ctvehicle, where the change in gene expression as a result of drug treatment is given by: 2{Delta}{Delta}Ct (2 is the assumed efficiency). Without an efficiency correction, the {Delta}{Delta}Ct method gives an estimated quantification of changes in gene expression. However, the use of two distinct housekeeping genes and extensive replication of experiments provides greater validity to the {Delta}{Delta}Ct method.

Immunoprecipitation followed by Western blot analysis was carried out for DCC according to standard procedures. We probed for changes in DCC protein expression in SK-N-MC cell lysate or positive control lysate (Santa Cruz Biotechnology, Santa Cruz, CA). The mouse anti-human DCC antibody, G97-449, (BD Biosciences, San Jose, CA) was used for immunoprecipitation and Western blot analysis was performed using a rabbit anti-human DCC antibody from Santa Cruz Biotechnology.

D1 Dopamine Receptor Profiling: Saturation and Competition Binding. SK-N-MC cells were washed once with ice-cold phosphate-buffered saline then lysed in 10 mM HEPES, pH 7.4 at 4°C for 15 min. SK-N-MC lysate was homogenized at 15x and spun at 28,000g then resuspended via homogenization in storage buffer (20 mM HEPES and 250 mM sucrose, pH 7.4). Membrane aliquots were snap-frozen and stored at –80°C until used. The D1 dopamine receptor density (Bmax) endogenously expressed in SK-N-MC cells was determined with [3H]SCH23390 in saturation experiments. SK-N-MC cell membranes were incubated with eight concentrations of [3H]SCH23390 (Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway, NJ) in binding buffer (50 mM HEPES and 4 mM MgCl2, pH adjusted to 7.4 with KOH). Nonspecific binding was determined using 1 µM SCH39166. Protein concentrations were determined using the Bio-Rad protein assay reagent (Bio-Rad, Hercules, CA). Competition binding experiments were consistent with previously reported binding data for the D1 dopamine receptor. The SK-N-MC cell membranes were incubated with a single concentration of [3H]SCH23390 (1–2 nM) and eight concentrations of the competing test ligand in buffer (50 mM HEPES, 4 mM MgCl2, 0.01% ascorbic acid, pH adjusted to 7.4 with KOH). The Ki value for each test compound was determined using a Cheng-Prusoff equation (Cheng and Prusoff, 1973Go).

cAMP Accumulation. cAMP accumulation assays were carried out using the same procedure for drug treatment of SK-N-MC cells in a six-well plate (as described above) with a 30-min drug incubation. The assay was stopped with lysis buffer (250 µl) supplied with the HitHunter cAMP XS Kit (DiscoveRx, Fremont, CA), and a 2-µl lysate aliquot was added in triplicate to a 96-well plate to determine intracellular cAMP in response to 10 µM forskolin, 10 µM dihydrexidine, 10 µM forskolin plus 10 µM dihydrexidine, 50 µM SCH23390 (Sigma-Aldrich) plus 10 µM dihydrexidine, or 50 µM SCH23390 alone.


    Results
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 Abstract
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
SK-N-MC Cells Express D1 Dopamine Receptors and Axon Guidance Molecules. To investigate the hypothesis that SK-N-MC cells (Sidhu and Fishman, 1990Go), acting via cAMP, dopamine receptors, or other GPCRs, may modulate gene expression of axon guidance molecules in vitro, we initially determined whether subtypes of dopamine receptor genes, which encode indirect and key receptor targets of cocaine in the brain, were expressed. With real-time PCR, we confirmed the expression of dopamine D1 receptors, discovered low expression of D2S transcripts, but no evidence that genes encoding D2L, D3, D4, or D5 dopamine receptors were expressed in the SK-N-MC cell line. D1 dopamine receptor density (Bmax) was approximately 45 fmol/mg of protein, and affinity (KD) for [3H]SCH23390 was 0.48 nM. [3H]SCH23390 binding sites displayed properties consistent with D1 dopamine receptors, in that Ki values were typical for D1 receptor ligands: SCH39166, 4.6 nM; butaclamol, 0.96 nM; SKF81297, 30 nM; dihydrexidine, 18.1 nM.

Using cocaine-induced gene expression changes in rodent brain as a guide (Bahi and Dreyer, 2005Go), we then determined whether the SK-N-MC human neuroepithelioma cell line expressed 26 axon guidance molecules of interest. We found that 17 of the 26 axon guidance molecule target genes were expressed in this cell line (Table 1, Fig. 1). We focused on 13 of the 17 expressed axon guidance molecules that were consistent and of high yield for further assay and analysis.


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TABLE 1 Axon guidance molecule genes assayed for expression in SK-N-MC cells using the Universal Probe Library (Human)

For those targets that we could not detect transcript, at least two different primer sets were tested. CP is the crossing point at which the real-time PCR signal is first detectable above background (also referred to as the Ct or crossing threshold). Drug treatment effects were not assessed on axon guidance molecules with an expression level of `+/-' or `-'. For amplification curves, see Fig. 1.

 

Figure 1
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Fig. 1. Example of real-time PCR curves for targets tested compared with no template control (NTC) curves. Representative amplification curves obtained using primer sets for 14 axon guidance molecules and two housekeeping genes in combination with the Universal Probe Library. Note: the flat NTC lines show that there is no contribution of contamination or primer secondary structure to the specific amplification curves.

 

Forskolin and Dihydrexidine Elevate cAMP in SK-N-MC Cells. Based on our postulate that changes in cAMP or GPCR receptor activity could alter axon guidance molecule expression, we first determined the feasibility of increasing cAMP levels by forskolin or by activation of endogenous dopamine receptors. SK-N-MC cells treated for 30 min with 10 µM forskolin increased cAMP approximately 340% above vehicle. The D1 dopamine receptor agonist dihydrexidine (10 µM dihydrexidine, 30 min) resulted in much lower stimulation of cAMP, 22% above vehicle controls, which was reduced to 10% after pretreatment with the D1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH23390 for 20 min. Longer incubation periods did not further enhance cAMP production over vehicle. Therefore, dihydrexidine-induced cAMP increase was partially mediated by D1 receptors or the antagonist concentration was insufficient to fully attenuate cAMP activation. The combined effects of dihydrexidine and forskolin were potentiated and not additive, in that cAMP accumulation increased to ~507% over vehicle (Fig. 2).


Figure 2
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Fig. 2. Left, cAMP accumulation in response to 30-min drug treatment of SK-N-MC cells. Dihydrexidine (DHX; 10 µM), 10 µM forskolin (FSK), and forskolin + dihydrexidine all increased cAMP, whereas the D1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH23390 (SCH) decreased cAMP in SK-N-MC cells. Right, forskolin data are removed and data expanded to reveal cAMP enhancement with dihydrexidine, attenuation of dihydrexidine effects by SCH23390 and SCH23390 reduction of cAMP. Data are the mean ± S.E.M. from three to seven independent experiments, each performed in triplicate. Statistical significance of cAMP accumulation in response to drug compared with vehicle treated was evaluated by the two-tailed Student's t test (*, P = 0.01; **, P = 0.007; ***, P = 0.0001).

 
Forskolin, Dihydrexidine, and SKF81297 Modulate Gene Expression of Axon Guidance Molecules. We then determined whether increased cAMP was associated with changes in gene expression of axon guidance molecules. Forskolin treatment (10 µM, 6 h) consistently increased expression of 3 of the 13 genes tested (Fig. 3A). All results are expressed as change relative to vehicle and normalized to beta-actin and HMBS. Forskolin increased EphA5, EphB2, and Neuropilin1 (NRP1) expression. Cells exposed to dihydrexidine, a dopamine receptor agonist (Fig. 3B), responded to dihydrexidine (10 µM, 6 h) with up-regulation of EphrinA1 and down-regulation of EphrinA5, the ephrin receptor, EphB1, the netrin receptor, DCC, and Semaphorin3C. To confirm that changes in protein expression paralleled changes in gene expression, we performed Western blot analysis of DCC protein as described under Materials and Methods. Dihydrexidine treatment decreased DCC protein levels in agreement with changes in DCC gene expression (Fig. 3C). To extend these findings to another D1 dopamine receptor agonist, we conducted parallel studies with SKF81927, using data from three of four experiments. SFK81297 promoted an increase in EphA5, EphrinA1, EphrinA5, and NRP1 genes, paralleling forskolin-mediated increases in expression of EphA5 and NRP1 genes and dihydrexidine increases in Ephrin A1 (Fig. 4). SKF also reduced expression of EphrinB3.


Figure 3
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Fig. 3. Changes in gene expression of axon guidance molecules in response to 10 µM forskolin (FSK) (A) or 10 µM dihydrexidine (DHX) (B) treatment for 6 h. Data are expressed as the means of ratios (drug treatment versus vehicle treatment) relative to two different housekeeping genes (beta-actin and HMBS) using the {Delta}{Delta}Ct method. Data are the average of three to five independent experiments ± S.E.M., each performed in triplicate. C, DCC protein expression is decreased after 6 h of 10 µM dihydrexidine treatment as determined by Western blot. Bands are duplicate lanes for each treatment, and shown is a representative blot from four independent experiments. The control lane is a positive control lysate for DCC.

 

Figure 4
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Fig. 4. Changes in gene expression of axon guidance molecules in response to 10 µM SKF81297 treatment for 6 h. Data re-expressed as the means of ratios (drug treatment versus vehicle treatment) relative to two different housekeeping genes (beta-actin and HMBS) using the {Delta}{Delta}Ct method.

 

We attempted to block dopamine receptor agonist-mediated effects with dopamine receptor antagonists, but the D1-like receptor antagonist SCH23390 alone (50 µM,6h; n = 8) regulated the two housekeeping genes and another D1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH39166 (10 µM, n = 3) altered expression patterns of axon guidance molecules. Treatment of SK-N-MC cells with the D2 receptor antagonist eticlopride (50 µM, 6 h; n = 4) had no effect on the gene changes mediated by 10 µM dihydrexidine but increased the magnitude of the EphrinA1 increase mediated by dihydrexidine (data not shown).


    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
To our knowledge, the present study is the first to link changes in gene expression of axon guidance molecules with alterations in cAMP production or drug-induced GPCR activation. In a neuroepithelioma cell line, forskolin and dihydrexidine altered expression of axon guidance molecules, after a steep (forskolin) or modest (dihydrexidine) rise of cAMP levels and, possibly, other signaling cascades. Forskolin, dihydrexidine, and SKF81297 induced a unique pattern of gene expression, with SKF81297 effects overlapping results of the other treatments. Our findings provide the first association between drug-induced GPCR receptor activation, signal transduction, and transcriptional regulation of axon guidance molecules. The only precedent for this association are reports that a change in cAMP concentration modulates axonal attraction-repulsion via axon guidance molecules (Lohof et al., 1992Go; Song et al., 1997Go).

cAMP and GPCR Stimulation: Association with Axon Guidance Molecule Expression. Cells exposed to forskolin consistently increased expression of EphA5, EphB2, and NRP1. The discrete biochemical sequelae mediating gene induction are unknown; conceivably, however, a surge of cAMP production can trigger transcriptional activity to augment expression of EphA5 and EphB2 receptor genes. EphA5 and EphB2 are implicated in synaptic plasticity and synaptogenesis in the adult rodent hippocampus (Gao et al., 1998Go; Martinez et al., 2005Go). EphA5 may also contribute to drug-induced modulation of long-term potentiation in the CA1 region and decreased neurogenesis in adult rat hippocampus (Thompson et al., 2005Go; Yamaguchi et al., 2005Go). EphB2 receptors subserve a different spectrum of functions by modulating LTP, NMDA receptor function, and normal spine formation in the hippocampus (Grunwald et al., 2001Go; Henderson et al., 2001Go). The semaphorin receptor neuropilin1 binds semaphorin class 3 molecules, but neuropilin1 function in adult brain is poorly understood. Notwithstanding the caveats associated with a cell culture model system, cAMP regulation of axon guidance molecules in the SK-N-MC cell line may be relevant to cAMP modulation of axon guidance molecules in neurons.

In contrast to forskolin, dihydrexidine up- or down-regulated a different and larger repertoire of axon guidance molecules. The agonist-induced changes in gene expression were not fully blocked by D1 or D2 receptor antagonists, in that the D1 dopamine receptor antagonists SCH23390 and SCH39166 had direct effects either on housekeeping genes or on axon guidance molecule expression, respectively. It is possible that endogenous receptors with constitutive activity, by themselves, can modulate axon guidance molecules, with implications for therapeutic receptor antagonist drugs. Despite the comparatively modest dihydrexidine-induced increase in cAMP, changes elicited by dihydrexidine were of higher magnitude than those of forskolin. Dihydrexidine induced up-regulation of EphrinA1, a ligand implicated in neurogenesis of neural stem cells via Rap1 and the MAPK pathway (Aoki et al., 2004Go) and associated with delineating the striatal matrix (Janis et al., 1999Go). Whether it functions in adult brain or contributes to enhanced striosome predominance of early gene expression in brain of monkeys treated repeatedly with cocaine remains unknown (Saka et al., 2004Go).

The dihydrexidine-mediated decrease in EphB1 gene expression in cell culture paralleled EphB1 down-regulation in the nucleus accumbens shell of rats self-administering cocaine (Kumaresan et al., 2005Go). Dihydrexidine also reduced the gene encoding the netrin receptor DCC, required for both repulsive and attractive responses to netrin1 (Hong et al., 1999Go). In adult rodent brain, DCC protein is expressed in dopaminergic neurons and their terminal fields (Osborne et al., 2005Go).

Why Do Forskolin and Dihydrexidine Modulate Axon Guidance Molecules Differently? GPCR activation or cAMP production was associated with axon guidance molecule modulation but not via a simple stoichiometric relationship. Nonparallel changes in gene expression of axon guidance molecules elicited by forskolin or receptor agonists were anticipated, in view of the significant differences in forskolin- and D1 receptor-mediated signaling events. Forskolin-stimulated cAMP production was >10-fold higher than dihydrexidine, possibly triggering a different cascade of concentration-dependent signaling actions. Furthermore, at 10 µM, dihydrexidine is likely to activate both D1 and D2 dopamine receptors, and possibly {alpha}2 adrenergic receptors, which are expressed in SK-N-MC cells (Schaak et al., 1997Go). It is noteworthy that dihydrexidine potentiated forskolin induction of cAMP, indicating that dihydrexidine did not stimulate Gi/Go-coupled GPCRs. Furthermore, the D1 dopamine receptor mediates signaling cascades in addition to cAMP and can heterodimerize with other receptors (Gines et al., 2000Go; O'Dowd et al., 2005Go). Levels of gene expression of axon guidance molecules engendered by SKF81297 overlapped with, but were not identical to changes elicited by forskolin or dihydrexidine. This finding was also anticipated because, at the concentrations we used, SKF81297 would conceivably activate a range of receptors (including 5-HT2C, 5-HT2A, and {alpha}2-adrenergic receptors) if expressed in this cell line (NIMH Psychoactive Drug Screening Program; http://pdsp.cwru.edu/pdsp.htm). Drug-induced modulation of axon guidance molecule expression is likely to reflect an array of signal transduction sequelae triggered by activating various GPCR receptors, as a function of agonist concentration.

Axon Guidance Molecules and Neuroadaptation. In cultured neuroepithelioma cells, exogenous compounds increased cAMP levels, and enhanced cAMP levels were associated with altered axon guidance molecule gene and protein expression. We recognize the perils of extrapolating observations and mechanisms based on cultured cells to organized brain tissue, because cultured cells do not model complex neuronal interactions, time course, and neuron-specific responses. Notwithstanding these caveats, the relevance of our findings to drug-induced modulation of axon guidance molecules in brain merit exploration. Axon guidance molecules are expressed in adult human and nonhuman primate brain (Hafner et al., 2004Go; Xiao et al., 2006Go) and are increasingly implicated in synaptic function and neuroadaptation (Yamaguchi and Pasquale, 2004Go; Pasquale, 2005Go) as well as response to the psychomotor stimulant cocaine. Various dosing regimens of cocaine modulate axon guidance molecules in a region-specific manner (Bahi and Dreyer, 2005Go), suggestive of causality between psychostimulant-induced receptor activation, axon guidance molecule changes, and neuroadaptation. The mechanisms by which cocaine might modulate axon guidance molecules are unknown, but cocaine-induced neurotransmitter activation of the Gs-coupled D1 dopamine receptors (or other receptors) and consequent elevation of cAMP may be linked to axon guidance molecule modulation (Yue et al., 1999Go; Halladay et al., 2000Go; Bahi and Dreyer, 2005Go; Xiao et al., 2006Go). Cocaine-mediated neuroadaptation extends beyond the cellular level, to changes in synaptic strength, neuronal morphology and neural networks (Dong et al., 2004Go; Robinson and Kolb, 2004Go; Saka et al., 2004Go), processes that conceivably involve axon guidance molecule function. It is noteworthy that several axon guidance molecule genes altered by forskolin or dihydrexidine, were regulated in the same direction by cocaine administration in rat brain (Bahi and Dreyer, 2005Go). Enhanced cAMP levels, via axon guidance molecule transcriptional regulation may also contribute to hippocampal plasticity. Axon guidance molecules in hippocampus are implicated in modulating LTP and NMDA receptor function (Henderson et al., 2001Go; Contractor et al., 2002Go). Of relevance to the present study is that forskolin is frequently used to induce LTP (Otmakhov et al., 2004Go), via enhanced cAMP that modulates gene expression of axon guidance molecules. Although highly speculative, axon guidance molecules may also contribute to antidepressant drug-induced hippocampal neurogenesis by guiding integration of newly formed neurons (Santarelli et al., 2003Go).

It is conceivable that exogenous compounds that activate neuron-specific membrane receptors and ion channels converge to trigger unique intracellular signaling cascades that govern the repertoire of axon guidance molecules. In this way, gene expression of axon guidance molecules may modulate neuronal activity and connectivity at many levels to provide a rich array of rapid or gradual neuroadaptive responses. The bidirectional signaling of membrane-associated axon guidance molecules renders them well suited to mediate anterograde and retrograde directed information at synapses. This study provides an initial view and potential link between cAMP modulation by physiological or pharmacological compounds and changes in axon guidance molecules. The novel underlying hypothesis and implications of this work may be relevant not only to neuroadaptive responses elicited by addictive and therapeutic drugs (e.g., cocaine, antipsychotics, antidepressants) but also to other receptor-mediated mechanisms in neurons, such as learning and memory.


    Acknowledgements
 
We thank Jennifer Carter for manuscript preparation. We thank Roche Diagnostics (Indianapolis, IN and Penzberg, Germany) for providing the Taqman Master kit in combination with the Universal Probe Library (Human).


    Footnotes
 
This work was supported by National Institutes of Health grants DA06303 (to B.K.M.), DA11558 (to B.K.M.), DA15305 (to B.K.M.), and RR00168.

This research was previously presented in abstract form at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience: Jassen AK, Yang H, Miller GM, and Madras BK (2005) Axonal guidance molecule gene expression is regulated by cAMP stimulants: implications for drug-induced neuroadaptation in brain. Soc Neurosci Abstr 31:1032.14.

Article, publication date, and citation information can be found at http://molpharm.aspetjournals.org.

doi:10.1124/mol.105.021998.

ABBREVIATIONS: GPCR, G-protein-coupled receptor; SKF81297, (±)-6-chloro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrobromide; SCH23390, R-(+)-7-chloro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine; SCH 39166, (–)-trans-6,7,7{alpha}, 8,9,13beta-hexahydro-3-chloro-2-hydroxy-N-methyl-5H-benzo[d]naphtho[2,1-b]azepine; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; HMBS, hydroxymethylbilane synthase; DCC, deleted in colorectal cancer; NRP1, neuropilin1; Ct, crossing threshold; LTP, long-term potentiation.

Address correspondence to: Bertha K. Madras, Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Division of Neurochemistry, New England Regional Primate Research Center, 1 Pine Hill Drive, Southborough, MA 01772-9102. E-mail: bertha_madras{at}hms.harvard.edu


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