Cited by 1,644Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology ResearchAmino Acid Enzymes and MetabolismTreatment of Major Depression

Synaptic versus extrasynaptic NMDA receptor signalling: implications for neurodegenerative disorders

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Hardingham, Giles E., Bading, Hilmar·2010·Nature Reviews Neuroscience

Abstract

There is a long-standing paradox that NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors (NMDARs) can both promote neuronal health and kill neurons. Recent studies show that NMDAR-induced responses depend on the receptor location: stimulation of synaptic NMDARs, acting primarily through nuclear Ca(2+) signalling, leads to the build-up of a neuroprotective 'shield', whereas stimulation of extrasynaptic NMDARs promotes cell death. These differences result from the activation of distinct genomic programmes and from opposing actions on intracellular signalling pathways. Perturbations in the balance between synaptic and extrasynaptic NMDAR activity contribute to neuronal dysfunction in acute ischaemia and Huntington's disease, and could be a common theme in the aetiology of neurodegenerative diseases. Neuroprotective therapies should aim to both enhance the effect of synaptic activity and disrupt extrasynaptic NMDAR-dependent death signalling.

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  • Synaptic NMDAR transmission promotes cell survival, whereas extrasynaptic NMDARs promote cell death through p38MAPK inhibition and activation, respectively.

    “research suggests that synaptic NMDAR transmission promotes cell survival and that extra-synaptic NMDARs promote cell death through p38MAPK inhibition and activation, respectively [25].”

    From Ketamine in neuropsychiatric disorders: an update (2024) · cites this paper as [25]

    The ‘NMDAR paradox’ section says synaptic NMDAR signalling promotes neuronal survival whereas extrasynaptic signalling promotes death. ‘Calpain activation and STEP cleavage’ identifies p38 activation as an extrasynaptic pro-death pathway, but does not support synaptic p38 inhibition as the survival mechanism; it notes that neuroprotective synaptic activity can also activate p38. Page numbers were not available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Augmented release of glutamate from astrocytes has been shown to decrease brain-derived neurotrophic factor and increase excitotoxicity.

    “Augmented release of glutamate from astrocytes has been shown to be decrease brain-derived neurotrophic factor and increase excitotoxicity (Hardingham and Bading, 2010).”

    From Inflammation in Fear- and Anxiety-Based Disorders: PTSD, GAD, and Beyond (2017) · cites this paper as Hardingham and Bading, 2010

    The ‘Extrasynaptic NMDARs in ischaemic stroke’ section reports that glutamate efflux arising mainly from reversed astrocytic uptake causes excitotoxicity in neuron–astrocyte co-cultures. The ‘Induction of survival genes’ section identifies BDNF as a target of protective synaptic NMDAR signalling, but does not show that increased astrocytic glutamate release decreases BDNF. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • PI3K/AKT and RAS/ERK signaling pathways also control processes associated with neural excitotoxicity and cell survival.

    “PI3K/AKT and RAS/ERK signaling pathways also control processes associated with neural excitotoxicity and cell survival [191].”
  • Redox state modulates NMDAR function, while activation of synaptic NMDARs strengthens neuronal antioxidant defense mechanisms.

    “While redox state modulates NMDAR function, activation of synaptic NMDARs strengthens neuronal antioxidant defense mechanisms (Hardingham and Bading, 2010).”
  • Synaptic NMDAR activation boosts glutathione, thioredoxin, and peroxiredoxin systems via calcium-mediated signaling involving activation of CREB and inhibition of FOXO.

    “Interestingly, synaptic NMDAR activation boosts GSH, thioredoxin, and peroxiredoxin systems via calcium-mediated signaling involving activation of CREB and inhibition of FOXO (Hardingham and Bading, 2010; Papadia et al., 2008).”

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Authors
Hardingham, G. E., & Bading, H.
Affiliations
  • University of Edinburgh (GB)
  • Heidelberg University (DE)
Corresponding author
  • Hardingham, Giles E.
  • Bading, Hilmar
Venue
Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Published
2010-09-15
Volume
11
Issue
10
Pages
682-696
ISSN
  • 1471-003X (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-0048
OpenAlex
W1966556202
Cited by
1,644
References
167
Citations by year
2026: 83 · 2025: 109 · 2024: 100 · 2023: 111 · 2022: 93 · 2021: 125 · 2020: 112 · 2019: 92 · 2018: 98 · 2017: 99 · 2016: 117 · 2015: 103 · 2014: 128 · 2013: 111 · 2012: 87
FWCI
7.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature reviews. Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Edinburgh Research Explorer (University of Edinburgh) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung
  • Wellcome Trust (94018, 087491, 088156)
  • Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
  • Medical Research Council
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
Keywords
NMDA receptor, synaptic NMDA receptors, extrasynaptic NMDA receptors, neuroprotection, neuronal cell death, intracellular signaling, ischemia, Huntington's disease, neurodegenerative diseases, neuroprotective therapy
MeSH terms
Animals, Humans, Synapses, Signal Transduction, Gene Expression, Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate, Cell Death, Oxidative Stress, Neuroprotective Agents, Neurodegenerative Diseases

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