谷氨酸转运体、谷氨酸/胱氨酸转运体与谷氨酸神经细胞毒作用

谷氨酸转运体与谷氨酸／胱氨酸转运体在脑缺血疾病中起重要作用，谷氨酸转运体的结构或功能改变可使细胞间隙的谷氨酸浓度急剧升高，激活NMDA受体产生一系列的表现，同时抑制谷氨酸／胱氨酸转运体对胱氨酸的摄取，介导谷胱苷肽耗竭、氧自由基升高、胞内钙升高、线粒体损伤、细胞色素c释放等神经细胞毒环节，激活半胱天冬酶诱导凋亡。可进一步加重谷氨酸的神经细胞毒作用。     

脊髓谷氨酸转运体1对大鼠坐骨神经慢性压迫损伤及吗啡耐受的影响

为了探讨脊髓谷氨酸转运体1 (GLT-1) 的表达量和活性状态与吗啡耐受和神经源性痛的关系,利用大鼠坐骨神经慢性压迫损伤 (CCI) 模型,以机械性缩足痛阈值 (MWT) 为评估指标,谷氨酸转运体激动剂β内酰胺类抗生素头孢曲松钠为工具药,观察对大鼠机械痛敏和吗啡耐受的影响;以实时定量PCR及Western blotting考察脊髓GLT-1表达水平的变化。结果表明,CCI大鼠在术后1周与对照组相比MWT值下降约80%;CCI大鼠单独使用吗啡产生快速耐受,给药第3天与CCI模型对照组大鼠比较MWT值已无明显差异,脊髓GLT-1表达也明显下调;单独使用头孢曲松钠对痛敏有改善作用,脊髓GLT-1表达明显上调;吗啡伴随头孢曲松钠给药组耐受速度明显减慢,给药6天后MWT值仍保持在较高水平,与CCI吗啡耐受组比较有显著性差异,GLT-1表达明显上调。因此,脊髓GLT-1活性变化与神经源性痛及吗啡耐受的形成密切相关,促进GLT-1功能可显著延缓吗啡耐受与痛敏形成。     

谷氨酸转运体与神经退行性疾病

谷氨酸是哺乳动物脑内最主要的兴奋性神经递质，其主要灭活方式是依赖谷氨酸转运体的摄取进入细胞，当谷氨酸转运体失表达，停止转运或反向释放谷氨酸时，引起突触间隙或胞外谷氨酸大量蓄积从而导致神经毒性反应，研究表明，谷氨酸转运体的摄取功能障碍与肌萎缩性侧索硬化症（amyo-trophic lateral sclerosis,ALS)、阿尔茨海默病（Alzhei-mer's disease,AD)、帕金森病（Parkinson's disease,PD）等许多神经退行性病变有关，这一发现对于神经退行性病变的病因学和治疗学研究均具有重要意义。     

谷氨酸神经细胞毒作用的新途径——谷氨酸/胱氨酸转运体介导机制

谷氨酸是中枢神经系统主要的兴奋性神经递质 ,与许多神经系统疾病有密切关系。谷氨酸除通过激活谷氨酸受体产生兴奋性神经毒性外 ,还可通过抑制细胞膜上谷氨酸 /胱氨酸转运体的功能产生细胞毒性作用 ,该作用以细胞内谷胱甘肽耗竭和活性氧成分升高为主要特征 ,被称为谷氨酸的氧化毒性 ,对许多神经系统疾病的治疗具有重要意义。     

谷氨酸转运体靶点药物的抗脑缺血作用研究进展

兴奋性氨基酸毒性是脑缺血损伤的主要机制之一。缺血期间谷氨酸的大量累积会导致神经元细胞、星形胶质细胞等神经细胞发生兴奋性毒性损伤,因此对缺血期间谷氨酸水平的调控一直是脑缺血防治药物研究的重点。近年来研究表明,通过上调星形胶质细胞上谷氨酸转运体GLAST(EAAT1)和GLT-1(EAAT2)的表达或活性,增加缺血时谷氨酸的摄取,维持突触间隙内谷氨酸的正常浓度,从而降低兴奋性毒性,减轻缺血性脑损伤。一些化合物如β-内酰胺类抗生素、尿酸、甲状腺激素、雌激素、山楂酸等已在体内或体外实验中被证实对谷氨酸转运体的调节作用,对抗谷氨酸毒性,发挥神经保护作用。研究和开发以星形胶质细胞谷氨酸转运体为作用靶点的药物,为缺血性脑损伤的预防和治疗提供了一条新的途径。     

谷氨酸转运体EAAT2在抑郁症发病及治疗中的作用

谷氨酸转运体EAAT2(啮齿类动物命名为GLT-1:谷氨酸转运体1)是海马和前额叶星形胶质细胞上一种非常重要的谷氨酸转运体,其承担了细胞外大部分谷氨酸的摄取和转运,由于谷氨酸转运体EAAT2的作用在于降低突触间隙过高的谷氨酸水平,避免过高浓度的谷氨酸对神经元和神经胶质细胞的兴奋毒性作用,使之逐渐成为近年来抑郁症研究的热点。该文主要就谷氨酸转运体EAAT2在抑郁症中可能的病理生理作用,以及其可能作为新一代抗抑郁药作用的靶点进行综述。     

谷氨酸转运体和吗啡耐受及依赖

吗啡通过μ阿片受体产生镇痛作用，可用于急慢性疼痛治疗，但吗啡耐受及依赖使其应用受到限制。吗啡耐受及依赖的机制非常复杂，关联到许多调控因素，其中谷氨酸能神经递质系统发挥了重要作用。大量的实验证明吗啡耐受及依赖后谷氨酸失衡。利用微透析技术，研究者发现清醒的吗啡依赖大鼠细胞外谷氨酸与对照组相比无明显差异，但利用纳洛酮等药物催促戒断症状后，蓝斑、导水管周围灰质等的胞外谷氨酸浓度显著增加。与此相似，吗啡耐受后，细胞外谷氨酸水平较对照组无明显改变，但给予单次吗啡刺激后，胞外谷氨酸的水平也明显升高。     

雌、孕激素对转运体表达和活性的调控

转运体是决定药物体内过程、药效及不良反应的关键因素之一。近年来的研究表明,转运体的表达和活性变化与机体的应激反应、疾病的发生发展密切相关。雌、孕激素对转运体的表达和活性具有显著地调控作用,而雌、孕激素水平不仅随女性生殖周期变化而变化,且受到年龄、疾病、药物等因素的调节。因此,阐明雌、孕激素对转运体的调控规律对临床药物治疗至关重要。本文综述了雌、孕激素对转运体表达和活性的调控作用及其机制,为临床药物治疗提供参考。     

葡萄糖转运体1研究进展

葡萄糖转运体(glucose transporter,GLUT)家族是葡萄糖转运的主要媒介,目前发现有13个成员。其中GLUT1以异构体的形式广泛表达于多种细胞,是介导葡萄糖经过血脑屏障的主要转运体。疾病可以改变GLUT1介导的葡萄糖转运过程,糖转运受到干扰能使脑功能受损,甚至导致脑死亡。近来研究显示,GLUT1能介导一些神经活性药物的转运,如糖基化的神经肽、低分子量肝素及D-葡萄糖衍生物等。因此,依赖于葡萄糖转运体的葡萄糖运载方法有可能是一个选择性药物运输系统,通过此高效转运系统,可调节药物进入大脑。     

囊泡谷氨酸转运体与神经系统疾病

囊泡谷氨酸转运体(vesicular glutamate transporters,VGLUTs)能特异地装载谷氨酸进入突触囊泡并促进释放,它包括3个成员,其中VGLUT1和VGLUT2是谷氨酸能神经元和它们轴突末端高度特异的标志,同时VGLUT1标志着皮质-皮质投射,VGLUT2标志着丘脑-皮层投射。而VGLUT3则会出现在胆碱能中间神经元、5-羟色胺能神经元、海马和皮层中GABA能中间神经元中。VGLUTs的异常会导致兴奋性神经递质谷氨酸的异常,从而诱发多种神经系统疾病。该文综述了VGLUTs的功能障碍与阿尔采末病(Alzheimer’sdisease,AD)、帕金森病(Parkinson’s disease,PD)、精神分裂症、抑郁症、癫痫、耳聋发病的关系的研究进展,为这些疾病的防治提供新的线索。     

Inhibition of tetanically sciatic stimulation-induced LTP of spinal neurons and Fos expression by disrupting glutamate transporter GLT-1

Tetanic stimulation of the sciatic nerve produces spinal long-term potentiation (LTP) of C-fiber evoked field potentials, which is NMDA dependent and may be the substrate of inflammation- or nerve injury-produced central sensitization. Glial glutamate transporter GLT-1 has been considered as an important regulator of excitatory synaptic transmission and nociception. In the present study, we investigated the effects of GLT-1 on the spinal LTP and Fos expression induced by tetanically sciatic stimulation. Intrathecal administration of dihydrokainate (DHK), a GLT-1 selective inhibitor, partially inhibited (0.1 mM) or completely blocked (3.0 mM) the spinal LTP, which may be related to an accumulation of extracellular glutamate. Intrathecal DHK (3.0 mM) also suppressed tetanic stimulation-induced spinal Fos expression. Double immunofluorescence showed no Fos expression in glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells, and the cell DNA fragment study failed to detect a significant apoptosis of spinal neurons. These results suggest that disruption of GLT-1 may be associated with the inhibition of functional activation of spinal neurons expressing Fos, but not with glutamate excitotoxicity. In conclusion, glial GLT-1 may play an important role in tetanically sciatic stimulation-induced LTP of spinal nociceptive neurons via the regulation of extracellular levels of glutamate to an appropriate concentration.     

Involvement of glial glutamate transporters in morphine dependence and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal

A body of evidence supports that excitatory amino acid systems, particularly glutamatergic one, participate in morphine dependence and naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. In this study, we examined the involvement of glial glutamate transporters, GLT-1 and GLAST, in them. Rats were rendered morphine-dependent by subcutaneous implantation of two 75 mg morphine pellets for 5 days. Intracerebroventricular administration of DL-threo-beta-benzyloxyaspartate, a glutamate transporter inhibitor significantly facilitated various naloxone-precipitated withdrawal signs. By northern blot analysis, the expression of GLT-1 mRNA was found to decrease significantly in the striatum and thalamus of morphine-dependent rats, and to increase significantly in the striatum 2 hr after the naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. On the other hand, there were no significant changes in GLAST mRNA levels in any brain regions. In vivo microdialysis experiments revealed that the extracellular glutamate levels was elevated in the striatum and nucleus accumbens, in which the changes of GLT-1 mRNA level were observed, during naloxone-precipitated morphine withdrawal. In cultured astrocytes, the expression of GLT-1 mRNA was regulated by agents activating the cAMP pathway, as well as beta-adrenergic agonist and dopamine, but not morphine. These results suggest that the changes of GLT-1 expression, which alter the glutamate uptake and affect the glutamatergic transmission efficiency, play a role in the development of morphine dependence and the expression of morphine withdrawal.     

The role of astroglia in Pb-exposed adult rat brain with respect to glutamate toxicity

Astrocytes maintain neuronal homeostasis in brain and controlling of the released glutamate is one of the most important functions. Since it is suggested that glutamatergic component underlies lead-induced neurotoxic effects and simultaneously, astrocytes serve as a cellular lead (Pb) deposition site, it was of interest to investigate the functioning of astroglia in adult rat brain after short-term exposure to Pb. We examined the expression of main astrocytic glutamate/aspartate transporters--GLAST and GLT-1, which regulate extracellular glutamate concentration. Molecular evidence is provided which indicates overexpression of GLAST mRNA and protein. Simultaneously, decreased expression of GLT-1 mRNA and protein was observed, indicating that of the two glial transporters, GLT-1 is more susceptible to the toxic Pb effect. Protein expression of glutamine synthetase (GS), which converts toxic glutamate to non-toxic glutamine, was doubly enhanced. Moreover, Na+-dependent transport of radioactive glutamine to astroglia-derived fraction was affected in Pb-exposed rats. Both the rate of accumulation and the efflux of amino acid were diminished. Additionally, we observed enhanced expression of glutathione-protein complexes after Pb treatment what suggests activation of S-glutathionylation processes. The results of current studies indicate that lead toxicity in adult rat brain activates astrocytic processes connected with the controlling of glutamate homeostasis. The response of astroglia is rather of neuroprotective character however, downexpression of GLT-1 glutamate transporter and activation of S-glutathionylation processes lead to the question about their significance in Pb-induced neurotoxicity.     

Aroclor 1254 selectively inhibits expression of glial GLT-1 glutamate transporter in the forebrain of chronically exposed adult rat

Aroclor 1254, a commercially produced mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls, is known to cause many adverse conditions, including neurotoxicity. It has been recently postulated that upregulation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and enhanced glutamate signalling which leads to excitotoxicity, is the mechanism of Aroclor-induced neurotoxicity. To obtain insights into the mechanisms underlying glutamatergic overstimulation, we investigated the function and expression of sodium-dependent glutamate transporters which are known to regulate extracellular glutamate concentrations in the brain. Exposure to Aroclor 1254 was found to significantly lower the uptake of radioactive glutamate into gliosomal fractions obtained from adult rat brains. It also markedly decreased the expression of both protein and mRNA of GLT-1, the main glial glutamate transporter. This indicates that downregulation of GLT-1 may potentially lead to disturbances in glutamate clearance. The expression of GLAST, another astroglial glutamate transporter, was unchanged under conditions of Aroclor toxicity. Conversely, we observed enhanced glutamate uptake into nerve-endings fractions paralleled by increased EAAC1 protein expression. This may reflect the induction of protective mechanisms.     

Nicergoline enhances glutamate uptake via glutamate transporters in rat cortical synaptosomes

To elucidate the mechanisms of neuroprotective action of nicergoline, we examined its effect on glutamate transport in rat cortical synaptosomes and cloned glutamate transporters. In synaptosomes, nicergoline enhanced the glutamate uptake at 1-10 microM in standard medium and suppressed the increase of extracellular glutamate by reversed transport in low Na(+) medium. Apparent increase of extracellular glutamate concentration by dihydrokinate, an inhibitor of glial glutamate transporter GLT-1, was antagonized by nicergoline. In Xenopus oocytes expressing mouse neuronal glutamate transporter (mEAAC1), the glutamate-induced inward current was enhanced by nicergoline. These results suggest that nicergoline reduces the extracellular glutamate concentration through its effect on glutamate transporters.     

Co-administration of ultra-low dose naloxone attenuates morphine tolerance in rats via attenuation of NMDA receptor neurotransmission and suppression of neuroinflammation in the spinal cords

Although mechanisms underlying ultra-low dose naloxone-induced analgesia have been proposed, possible interactions with glutamatergic transmission and glial cell activation have not been addressed. In the present study, we examined the effect of ultra-low dose naloxone on spinal glutamatergic transmission and glial cell activity in rats chronically infused with morphine.In male Wistar rats, intrathecal morphine infusion (15 μg/h) for 5 days induced (1) antinociceptive tolerance, (2) downregulation of glutamate transporters (GTs) GLT-1, GLAST, and EAAC1, (3) increasing of NMDA receptor (NMDAR) NR1 subunit expression and phosphorylation, (4) upregulation of protein kinase C gamma (PKCγ) expression, and (5) glial cell activation. On day 5, morphine challenge (15 μg/10 μl) caused a significant increase in the concentration of the excitatory amino acids (EAAs) aspartate and glutamate in the spinal CSF dialysates of morphine-tolerant rats. Intrathecal co-infusion of ultra-low dose naloxone (15 pg/h) with morphine attenuated tolerance development, reversed GTs expression, inhibited the NMDAR NR1 subunit expression and phosphorylation, and PKCγ expression, inhibited glial cell activation, and suppressed the morphine-evoked EAAs release. These effects may result in preservation of the antinociceptive effect of acute morphine challenge in chronic morphine-infused rats. Ultra-low dose naloxone infusion alone did not produce an antinociceptive effect. These findings demonstrated that attenuation of glutamatergic transmission and neuroinflammation by ultra-low dose naloxone co-infusion preserves the lasting antinociceptive effect of morphine in rats chronically infused with morphine.     

Harmine, a natural beta-carboline alkaloid, upregulates astroglial glutamate transporter expression

Glutamate is the predominant excitatory amino acid neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). Glutamate transporter EAAT2/GLT-1 is the physiologically dominant astroglial protein that inactivates synaptic glutamate. Previous studies have shown that EAAT2 dysfunction leads to excessive extracellular glutamate and may contribute to various neurological disorders including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The recent discovery of the neuroprotective properties of ceftriaxone, a beta lactam antibiotic, suggested that increasing EAAT2/GLT-1 gene expression might be beneficial in ALS and other neurological/psychiatric disorders by augmenting astrocytic glutamate uptake. Here we report our efforts to develop a new screening assay for identifying compounds that activate EAAT2 gene expression. We generated fetal derived-human immortalized astroglial cells that are stably expressing a firefly luciferase reporter under the control of the human EAAT2 promoter. When screening a library of 1040 FDA approved compounds and natural products, we identified harmine, a naturally occurring beta-carboline alkaloid, as one of the top hits for activating the EAAT2 promoter. We further tested harmine in our in vitro cell culture systems and confirmed its ability to increase EAAT2/GLT1 gene expression and functional glutamate uptake activity. We next tested its efficacy in both wild type animals and in an ALS animal model of disease and demonstrated that harmine effectively increased GLT-1 protein and glutamate transporter activity in vivo. Our studies provide potential novel neurotherapeutics by modulating the activity of glutamate transporters via gene activation. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled 'Trends in neuropharmacology: in memory of Erminio Costa'.