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Molecular and Cellular Biology, May 2007, p. 3429-3440, Vol. 27, No. 9
0270-7306/07/$08.00+0 doi:10.1128/MCB.01465-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.
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Division of Biochemistry, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe 650-0017, Japan
Received 8 August 2006/ Returned for modification 5 September 2006/ Accepted 12 February 2007
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S1P, a phosphorylated product of sphingosine catalyzed by sphingosine kinase (SK), has been implicated as an important lipid mediator acting both inside and outside the cells (26, 33). Extracellular S1P binds to members of GTP-binding protein (G-protein)-coupled S1P receptor family (S1P1-5), triggering diverse cellular effects including angiogenesis, cardiac development, immunity, cell motility, and neurite extension (34, 36, 44). On the other hand, S1P has been shown to function intracellularly, mediating mobilization of cellular calcium, cell growth, and suppression of apoptosis (16, 40). It has been reported that high KCl-induced depolarization caused accumulation of S1P in PC12 cells (1). More recently, it has been shown that newly synthesized S1P is released from cerebellar granule cells and astrocytes (3). Although evidence is accumulating to suggest the abundance of SK1 (14, 41) and several isotypes of S1P receptors (15) in the CNS, the physiological relevance of this lipid mediator in neuron-specific functions such as neurotransmitter release remains unknown. The present studies were undertaken to identify and characterize the role of S1P in the regulation of transmitter secretion. We present evidence that exogenously added S1P itself causes glutamate secretion in primary hippocampal neurons. We also show that depolarization-evoked glutamate secretion is strongly potentiated by autocrine/paracrine action of S1P produced during depolarization. Implication of S1P in spontaneous secretion is also discussed in this article.
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Cell cultures. All animals used in this study were handled in compliance with the Kobe University Guidelines for the use of animals. Hippocampal neurons were prepared from embryonic day 18 rats (Wistar). Neurons were cultured on glass-bottomed culture dishes (Matsunami Glass, Osaka, Japan) coated with 300 µg/ml poly-D-lysine and 25 µg/ml laminin in neurobasal medium with added supplement B-27 (Invitrogen), 1 mM L-glutamine, 100 U/ml penicillin, and 100 µg/ml streptomycin in a 5% CO2 atmosphere. Cultured neurons (5 x 104 at a density of 38,000/cm2) were transfected with different cDNAs (0.53 µg) using Lipofectamine 2000 (Invitrogen) 2 to 5 days before experiments. All experiments were performed at 10 to 14 days in vitro.
siRNAs. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) for rSK1 (5'-GGGCAAGGCUCUGAAGCUCdTdT-3' and 5'-GAGCUUCAGAGCCUUGCCCdTdT-3'; dT is deoxyribosylthymine throughout), for the control siRNA (5'-UUCUCCGAACGUGUCACGUdTdT-3' and 5'-ACGUGACACGUUCGGAGAAdTdT-3'), for S1P1 (5'-CUGACUUCAGUGGUGUUCAdTdT-3' and 5'-UGAACACCACUGAAGUCAGdTdT-3'), and for S1P3 (5'-CCCUCUACUCCAAGAAAUACA-3' and 5'-UAUUUCUUGGAGUAGAGGGGC-3') were synthesized at Japan Bio Services (Saitama, Japan). Hippocampal neurons were transfected both with siRNAs and either empty vector or various expression vector constructs 2 to 5 days before the assays. Transfection efficiency of siRNAs in neurons was determined by using a commercially available kit (Block-iT Alexa Fluor Red Fluorescent Oligo; Invitrogen).
SK1 antibody. A rabbit polyclonal anti-mouse SK1 antibody was raised against the synthetic peptide GSRDAPSGRDSRRGPPPEEP (amino acid residues 362 to 381) conjugated to glutathione S-transferase. The antibody was affinity purified by using immunogen-immobilized Sepharose 4B.
Immunoprecipitation. Cultured hippocampal neurons were harvested using cell lysis buffer (20 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.4, 1 mM EGTA, 1 mM EDTA, 150 mM NaCl, 1% [wt/vol] Triton X-100, and protease inhibitors; Roche Applied Science). Lysates were then sonicated and centrifuged at 10,000 x g. The supernatants were incubated with anti-SK1 antibody (diluted 1:100) for 1 h at 4°C and then with protein A-Sepharose for an additional 1 h. Samples were centrifuged for 5 min at 2,000 x g at 4°C, and pellets were washed three times with the lysis buffer without detergent. Finally, the pellets were suspended in cell lysis buffer without detergent and used for either immunoblotting analysis or SK assay.
Immunofluorescence. Rat hippocampal neurons were immunostained at 10 to 14 days in vitro as previously described (13). Antibodies used were polyclonal anti-SK1 (1:100; see above), polyclonal anti-SK2 (1:1,000), monoclonal anti-Tau (1:100; Sigma Aldrich), monoclonal anti-microtubule-associated protein 2 (anti-MAP2; 1:100) (Sigma Aldrich), and monoclonal antisynaptophysin (1:50; CHEMICON International, Temecula, CA). The fluorescence of Alexa488 and Alexa594 was observed under a confocal laser scanning microscope (LSM 510 META; Carl Zeiss, Jena, Germany), with excitation at 488 nm using a 505- to 530-nm band-pass barrier filter and with excitation at 543 nm using a 560-nm long-pass barrier filter. In some experiments neurons were transfected with a plasmid DNA encoding GFP-SK1, and active puncta were detected after FM4-64 dye loading (see below).
FM4-64 imaging. Labeling of actively recycling presynaptic vesicles with the fluorescent styryl membrane probe FM4-64 (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR) was carried out essentially as described previously (37). Briefly, vesicles were loaded for 1 min with 15 µM FM4-64 in 50 mM KCl followed by rinsing in dye-free solution for 10 min. High-potassium (50 mM KCl)- or glutamate-induced exocytosis was measured in buffer solution (135 mM NaCl, 5.4 mM KCl, 1 mM MgCl2, 1.8 mM CaCl2, 10 mM glucose, and 5 mM HEPES, pH 7.3). FM4-64 fluorescence was monitored using a Zeiss LSM 510 META confocal microscope (excitation at 488 nm using a 640-nm long-pass barrier filter). Fluorescence in the puncta (at least 100 different regions) was analyzed using Zeiss LSM 510 software. The fluorescence values from three independent experiments were averaged and plotted to generate a time course of FM4-64 decrease. For dominant negative SK and siRNA experiments, the FM4-64 fluorescence of GFP-positive puncta, where synaptophysin-GFP was expressed, was monitored.
Measurement of glutamate. Glutamate released from cultured hippocampal neurons was measured using an Amplex Red glutamic acid/glutamate oxidase assay kit (Invitrogen). Primary hippocampal neurons were untreated or pretreated with 10 µM dimethylsphingosine (DMS) (Sigma) or 50 µM 2-(p-hydroxyanilino)-4-(p-chlorophenyl)thiazole (HACPT; Calbiochem, La Jolla, CA) for 30 min and then left untreated or treated with 50 mM KCl or 10 nM S1P for 1 min. Then the medium was collected and analyzed for glutamate content according to the manufacturer's instructions. The resulting increase in fluorescence over time was measured at an excitation of 540 nm and emission of 590 nm using a fluorescence spectrophotometer (F-2500; Hitachi, Tokyo).
Mass measurement of S1P in hippocampal neurons.
Mass levels of S1P in hippocampal neurons were determined essentially as described previously (12) with some modifications. In brief, either control or KCl-treated hippocampal neurons (2.5 x 106 cells/sample) were collected with methanol. The extraction procedure was downsized to one-fifth of the original scale. Extracted S1P was dephosphorylated by alkaline phosphatase from bovine intestinal mucosa (Sigma) and rephosphorylated by a recombinant mSK1 with [
-32P]ATP. Radioactive S1P was quantitated after thin-layer chromatography using authentic S1P as a standard.
Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Total RNA was extracted from rat hippocampal neurons (4 x 105 cells) using Isogen (Nippon Gene, Toyama, Japan) according to the manufacturer's instructions. cDNA synthesis and quantitative PCR were as described previously (30). The primer sequences (sense and antisense) were as follows: for rat S1P1, 5'-TTGTTGCAAATGCCCCAACG-3' and 5'-TTTGCTGCGGCTAAATTCCATG-3'; for rat S1P2, 5'-TCGCCAAGGTCAAGCTCTACG-3' and 5'-AGACAATTCCAGCCCAGGATGG-3'; for rat S1P3, 5'-CACCTGACCATGATCAAGATGAG-3' and 5'-ACCCAGCGAGAAGGCAATTAGC-3'; for rat S1P4, 5'-TGTGTATGGCTGCATCGGTCTG-3' and 5'-GAGCACATAGCCCTTGGAGTAG-3'; for rat S1P5, 5'-GCTCTACGCCAAGGCCTATGTG-3' and 5'-GCACCTGACAGTAAATCCTTGC-3'; for rat glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), 5'-TGCCCCCATGTTTGTGATG-3' and 5'-TGTGGTCATGAGCCCTTCC-3'; and for rSK1, 5'-CTGGAGGAGGCTGAGGTATC-3' and 5'-CCAGTGACCCAGTTCTTCTGC-3'. The expression of each mRNA was normalized to GAPDH mRNA expression.
FRAP. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) analysis was performed with a Zeiss LSM 510 META confocal laser scanning microscope as described previously (8). Briefly, the primary hippocampal neurons transfected with GFP-SK1, synaptophysin-GFP, or GFP alone were untreated or were treated with 50 mM KCl or 100 µM glutamate for 1 min. Then each circular region of a punctum of interest was photobleached by scanning for 8 s with an argon laser at the highest power. Recovery of fluorescence in the selected regions was then analyzed by confocal fluorescence microscopy with low laser power at the indicated times (see the figure legends) after photobleaching. For all of the images, the noise levels were reduced by line scan averaging. Then FRAP in fractional units was calculated using the following equation: [F(t) Fp]/[Fi Fp] x 100, where Fi is the fluorescence at the selected region before photobleaching, Fp is the fluorescence at the selected region immediately after photobleaching, and F(t) is the fluorescence at the selected region at time t after photobleaching (35).
FRET. Primary hippocampal neurons cultured in glass-bottomed culture dishes were cotransfected with S1P1-CFP (donor) and YFP-ß-arrestin (acceptor) at a donor/acceptor ratio of 1:1. Following excitation at 458 nm, CFP and YFP emission spectra were collected (from cells expressing S1P1-CFP or YFP-ß-arrestin alone) in eight channels, each with a 20-nm width, from 473 to 633 nm using the lambda mode of the Zeiss LSM 510 META confocal microscope and analytical software. Two days after cotransfection, neurons were treated with various agonists, as indicated in the legend to Fig. 5, and each area at the puncta of interest was subjected to fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) analysis. FRET efficiency was measured after the acceptor photobleaching method as described previously (5). A mixed spectral image of cotransfected cells was collected, and an area of the puncta or dendrites was then selected for photobleaching of YFP. A protocol was then used which recorded pre- and postbleaching images using 458-nm excitation at 10% laser power to limit photobleaching, with a bleaching of the selected area with 100% 514-nm laser power for 2 s (acceptor photobleaching). The images obtained via lambda stacks were separated using the emission fingerprinting method. Two-channel (CFP and YFP) images were generated by applying linear unmixing to the lambda stacks. FRET was resolved as an increase in the CFP (donor) signal after photobleaching of YFP (acceptor). FRET efficiency (E) can be determined from the relative fluorescence intensity of the energy donor (CFP) before (Ipre) and after (Ipost) photobleaching of the energy acceptor (YFP): E = 1 (Ipre/Ipost) (28).
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FIG. 5. Depolarization-induced S1P receptor activation demonstrated by FRET analysis. (A) The strategy to detect S1P1 interaction with ß-arrestin (ßArr) after S1P1 activation using FRET is depicted. (B) Hippocampal neurons transfected with expression plasmids encoding S1P1-CFP and YFP-ß-arrestin were treated either with depolarization stimuli (50 mM KCl or 100 µM glutamate) or with 10 nM S1P and were analyzed for FRET in living cells. A representative emission ratio of the two fluorophores (excited at 458 nm) from five independent experiments is shown. Arrows indicate the addition of either control (buffer vehicle) or agonists. (C) Hippocampal neurons cotransfected with expression plasmids encoding S1P1-CFP and YFP-ß-arrestin were treated without (buffer) or with 50 mM KCl, 100 µM glutamate, or 10 nM S1P and were analyzed for FRET in living cells. Emission detected from an increase in donor fluorescence after acceptor photobleaching of puncta of interest was measured and expressed as FRET efficiency. Note that depolarization induced either by KCl or glutamate as well as S1P treatment caused a significant increase in FRET efficiencies (n = 50; a representative experiment of four independent experiments is shown; P < 0.01, Student's paired t test). (D) Neurons cotransfected with S1P1-CFP and YFP-ß-arrestin plasmids were untreated or treated with 10 µM DMS for 30 min before agonist stimulation. In some experiments neurons were transfected with control or rSK1-siRNAs together with plasmids encoding the fluorophore-conjugated proteins. Neurons were stimulated without (buffer) or with 100 µM glutamate, 50 mM KCl, or 10 nM S1P and fixed and measured for FRET efficiency after photobleaching of puncta or dendrite areas of interest. Data are means ± standard errors of the means of three independent experiments carried out in triplicate.
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FIG. 1. Expression of SK1 in the functional puncta of hippocampal neurons. (A) COS7 cells transiently expressing HA-rSK1 or HA-rSK2 were subjected to immunoblot analysis using anti-SK1 or anti-HA antibody. (B) Rat brain lysates were analyzed for endogenous SK1 expression by immunoblotting experiments in the presence or absence of the immunogen peptide using anti-SK1 antibody. (C) SK activity was immunoprecipitated from rat brain lysates in the absence or presence of the immunogen peptide. Immunoprecipitates were assayed for SK activity. (D) Primary rat hippocampal neurons were double stained with both anti-SK1 or anti-SK2 and anti-Tau, anti-MAP2, or antisynaptophysin (SynPhy) antibodies. In some experiments neurons transiently expressing GFP-SK1 were prelabeled with membrane dye FM4-64 and analyzed for fluorescence localization in living cells. Differential interference contrast (DIC) and merged images are also presented. Scale bar, 10 µm.
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FIG. 2. Inhibition of depolarization-evoked glutamate secretion by DMS. (A) Neurons cultured in 6-cm dishes were washed three times with phosphate-buffered saline. Neurons were pretreated without (vehicle) or with 10 µM DMS or 50 µM HACPT for 30 min and analyzed for glutamate secretion 1 min after treatment with either buffer or buffer containing 50 mM KCl. (B) Schematic representation of the protocol for the measurement of neurotransmitter secretion using the FM4-64 dye method. (C) Rat hippocampal neurons were treated without (vehicle; control) or with 10 µM DMS for 30 min. Neurons were washed and labeled with FM dye, which was incorporated into active presynaptic vesicles. The fluorescence of the dye at each punctum of interest was sequentially monitored after depolarization induced by 50 mM KCl. (D) Control or DMS-treated neurons were labeled with FM dye as in panel C, and the fluorescence of the dye was monitored after treatment with 100 µM glutamate. The arrow indicates the addition of glutamate. Data are means ± standard errors of the means of three independent experiments carried out in triplicate. For F(t), fluorescence at the selected region at time t, see text.
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FIG. 3. Involvement of SK1 in depolarization-evoked secretion. (A) Rat hippocampal neurons were transfected either with control or rSK1-siRNA together with expression vectors encoding rSK1, hSK1, or hSK1G82D. Two days after transfection neurons were analyzed for SK1 expression by immunoblot analysis. Endogenous SK1 mRNA and protein were quantitated in neurons transfected with either control or rSK1-siRNA by real-time quantitative PCR (B) or by immunoblot analysis using anti-SK1 antibody (C). Neurons transfected with either control or rSK1-siRNA together with vectors encoding hSK1, hSK1G82D, or an empty vector (mock) were prelabeled with FM4-64 and treated with 50 mM KCl (D) or 100 µM glutamate (E), and the fluorescence of the dye at each punctum of interest was sequentially monitored. The arrow indicates the addition of glutamate. Data are means ± standard errors of the means of three independent experiments carried out in triplicate (D and E). For F(t), fluorescence at the selected region at time t, see text.
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FIG. 4. Translocation of SK1 during depolarization. Hippocampal neurons were transiently transfected with expression vectors encoding GFP-SK1, free GFP, or SynPhy-GFP as indicated. Two days after transfection living cells were subjected to FRAP analysis using confocal laser scanning microscopy. After depolarization induced either by 50 mM KCl (A) or 100 µM glutamate (B), axonal puncta expressing GFP-fused proteins were photobleached. Subsequently, images were collected at the indicated time points. For the graphs the fluorescence recovery immediately after photobleaching (lowest fluorescence intensity, 0 s) at each punctum of interest was measured and is given as percent fluorescence recovery based on the initial value before bleaching. Data are means ± standard errors of the means of three independent experiments carried out in triplicate.
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Role of exogenous S1P in neurotransmitter secretion.
What is the outcome of S1P receptor activation during depolarization? To answer this question we examined the effect of exogenous S1P and dihydroS1P (DHS1P), physiological products of SK1, on secretion in hippocampal neurons. Unexpectedly, S1P by itself elicited secretion in a dose-dependent manner with a 50% effective concentration of
20 pM, with the maximal effects being observed at 10 nM as measured by the FM dye method (Fig. 6A). DHS1P also caused secretion with a potency similar to S1P, suggesting a receptor-mediated but not intracellular action. Similar results were also obtained by the direct measurement of glutamate release from hippocampal neurons. Exogenous S1P caused the release of glutamate in the same range of S1P concentrations as determined using FM dye method (Fig. 6B). The effect of S1P was rapid, with maximum exocytosis taking place in 2 s (Fig. 6C). To characterize further the receptor-mediated S1P action during glutamate-induced secretion, the effect of S1P was analyzed in combination with glutamate. Glutamate-induced secretion was potently (75%) inhibited by DMS treatment (Fig. 2D and 6C), confirming the necessity of SK activity for the glutamate action. Importantly, this inhibition by DMS was overcome by the simultaneous addition of a suboptimal concentration (1 pM) of S1P (Fig. 6C), which alone was insufficient to cause exocytosis (Fig. 6A and C, filled triangles), demonstrating potentiation of glutamate-induced transmitter secretion by S1P as well as induction of secretion by this lipid itself. In fact, the dose dependence curve for glutamate-induced exocytosis was shifted to the left by the exogenous addition of 1 pM S1P (Fig. 6D). To demonstrate that this exogenous action of S1P was mediated directly through S1P receptor activation, S1P-mediated secretion was measured in S1P receptor knock-down cells. First, expression of S1P receptors in hippocampal neurons was assessed by real-time quantitative PCR analysis. Of the five S1P receptor subtypes, S1P1 and S1P3 mRNAs were expressed mainly in the primary neurons (Fig. 6E). Next, the effect of S1P receptor siRNAs on their endogenous mRNA expression in the neurons was checked. S1P1 and S1P3 siRNA treatment caused the inhibition of the corresponding endogenous mRNA level by 30% and 35%, respectively (Fig. 6F and G). When either S1P1 or S1P3 receptor siRNA was transfected in the neurons, it caused an obvious inhibition of secretion induced by S1P compared with control siRNA-transfected cells (Fig. 6H). Since S1P1 is known to couple with the heterotrimeric G protein, Gi (36), the involvement of S1P1 receptor in S1P-induced secretion was further ascertained by pertussis toxin sensitivity assays. S1P-induced secretion was partially (50%) inhibited by pertussis toxin treatment (see Fig. S4 in the supplemental material), further supporting the results obtained from S1P1 receptor knock-down cells. Combination of S1P1 and S1P3 receptor siRNA caused an almost complete inhibition of S1P-induced secretion, indicating that S1P-induced secretion is mediated by both S1P1 and S1P3 receptor activation.
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FIG. 6. Functional roles of exogenous S1P as both an inducer and an enhancer of secretion. (A) Primary rat hippocampal neurons were prelabeled with FM4-64. FM dye-labeled cells were stimulated with various concentrations of either S1P or DHS1P for 6 s, and the changes in fluorescence intensity were monitored. At all points vehicle (methanol) concentrations were kept constant. (B) Neurons washed three times with PBS were stimulated with various concentrations of S1P for 6 s. Secreted glutamate was measured by an enzymatic fluorometric assay. (C) Neurons were treated without (vehicle) or with 10 µM DMS for 30 min and labeled with FM dye. Neurons were then stimulated with various combinations of 1 pM S1P and 100 µM glutamate for the indicated time, and the changes in fluorescence intensity were monitored. The arrow indicates the addition of agonists. (D) FM dye-prelabeled neurons were treated with various concentrations of glutamate without or with 1 pM S1P for 6 s, and the changes in fluorescence intensity were monitored. (E) Individual S1P receptor mRNAs were quantitated from primary rat hippocampal neurons by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Values of mRNA amounts were normalized to GAPDH expression. (F and G) Hippocampal neurons were transfected with control or S1P1 or S1P3 siRNA. Two days after transfection S1P1 mRNA (F) or S1P3 mRNA (G) levels were quantitated by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR. (H) Hippocampal neurons transfected with various combinations of control or S1P1 and S1P3 siRNAs were prelabeled with FM4-64. Neurons were stimulated with 10 nM S1P, and the changes in fluorescence intensity were monitored. The arrow indicates the addition of S1P. Data are the means ± standard errors of the means of five independent experiments carried out three (A to D and H) or six (E) times. For F(t), fluorescence at the selected region at time t, see text.
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FIG. 7. Essential role of S1P in the induction and potentiation of glutamate secretion. FM dye-prelabeled hippocampal neurons were untreated or treated with 1 µM TTX for 10 min. Neurons were then stimulated with 10 nM S1P (A) or 100 µM NMDA (B), and the changes in fluorescence intensity were monitored. The arrow indicates the addition of agonists. (C) Neurons cultured in 6-cm dishes were washed three times with phosphate-buffered saline. Neurons were pretreated without (vehicle) or with 10 µM DMS for 30 min or with 1 µM TTX for 10 min and analyzed for glutamate secretion 1 min after treatment with either buffer or buffer containing 10 nM S1P. (D) Neurons cultured in 10-cm dishes were washed three times with phosphate-buffered saline. Neurons were treated without (control) or with 50 mM KCl (depolarization) for 1 min. Lipids were extracted from the neurons and analyzed for mass level quantification of S1P (n = 5; P < 0.05, Student's paired t test). For F(t), fluorescence at the selected region at time t, see text.
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S1P has been suggested to exert its actions either intracellularly as a second messenger or extracellularly as a ligand for S1P receptors (26, 33). The present results demonstrate that S1P produced during depolarization exerts its actions by activating S1P1 or S1P3 receptor (Fig. 5 and 6H). High-potassium-induced depolarization causes rapid formation of S1P in hippocampal neurons (Fig. 7D) and in PC12 cells (1). This newly synthesized S1P may be released into extracellular space (3) and may activate S1P receptors. This autocrine/paracrine action of S1P in hippocampal neurons may reflect a wider phenomenon operating as well in other cases such as in immune cells (34). S1P1 activation is known to induce cytoskeletal rearrangements through small G-protein Rac activation via Gi (25, 31). Rac is proposed to facilitate synaptic vesicle fusion to plasma membranes to induce transmitter secretion (11, 17). The precise mechanisms underlying S1P receptor activation leading to neurotransmitter secretion need to be elucidated.
It has been thought that many presynaptic receptors belong to the relatively slow-acting metabotropic G-protein-coupled class, exerting mainly inhibitory effects on the release machinery through inhibition of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels or by increasing K+-channel activity (7, 43). However, our present results clearly indicate that S1P receptor activation causes induction or potentiation of glutamate release from hippocampal neurons. To support our observation, it has recently been reported that pregnenolone sulfate acts through a Gi/o-coupled sigma 1-like receptor to enhance short-term presynaptic facilitation in adult hippocampal CA1 neurons (38). Hippocampal neurons may be unique in the modulation of transmitter release compared with other types of neurons.
Although it has long been known that neurotransmitter(s) is also released spontaneously, independent of action potentials (22), the molecular mechanisms and physiological relevance of spontaneous or quantal secretion remain unknown. Based on the present results showing a functional role for S1P in triggering secretion by itself (Fig. 7A), it is plausible that the SK1/S1P pathway is one, if not the main, determinant to elicit spontaneous secretion in neurons.
It has recently been shown that SK1/SK2 double-knockout mice as well as S1P1 receptor-null mice showed severe defects in neurogenesis, including neural tube closure (29). In addition, there is a line of evidence indicating that neural stem cells in the adult mammalian brain continuously generate new neurons, predominantly in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb (2, 21). We have recently observed that SK1 is enriched in the hippocampus and olfactory bulb in adult mice (data not shown). The ongoing neurogenesis in the adult has recently been implicated in the formation of hippocampus-dependent memories such as trace memories (39). This implies that the new neurons must be integrated into preexisting neuronal networks with functional synaptic transmission through active synaptogenesis and acquisition of synaptic plasticity. The notion of up-regulation of neurotransmitter secretion by the SK1/S1P signaling pathway as demonstrated in the present studies may provide some clues to adult as well as embryonic CNS development.
This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for COE Research and a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture of Japan and a Grant-in-Aid for JSPS Fellows from Japan Society for the promotion of Science.
Published ahead of print on 26 February 2007. ![]()
Supplemental material for this article may be found at http://mcb.asm.org/. ![]()
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