Nuclear Factor κB Nuclear Translocation Upregulates c-Myc and p53 Expression during NMDA Receptor-Mediated Apoptosis in Rat Striatum

Abstract

Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) appears to participate in the excitotoxin-induced apoptosis of striatal medium spiny neurons. To elucidate molecular mechanisms by which this transcription factor contributes to NMDA receptor-triggered apoptotic cascades in vivo, rats were given the NMDA receptor agonist quinolinic acid (QA) by intrastriatal infusion, and the role of NF-κB in the induction of apoptosis-related genes and gene products was evaluated. QA administration induced time-dependent NF-κB nuclear translocation. The nuclear NF-κB protein after QA treatment was comprised mainly of p65 and c-Rel subunits as detected by gel supershift assay. Levels of c-Myc and p53 mRNA and protein were markedly increased at the time of QA-induced NF-κB nuclear translocation. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that c-Myc and p53 induction occurred in the excitotoxin-sensitive medium-sized striatal neurons. NF-κB nuclear translocation was blocked in a dose-dependent manner by the cell-permeable recombinant peptide NF-κB SN50, but not by the NF-κB SN50 control peptide. NF-κB SN50 significantly inhibited the QA-induced elevation in levels of c-Myc and p53 mRNA and protein. Pretreatment or posttreatment with NF-κB SN50, but not the control peptide, also substantially reduced the intensity of QA-induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. The results suggest that NF-κB may promote an apoptotic response in striatal medium-sized neurons to excitotoxic insult through upregulation of c-Myc and p53. This study also provides evidence indicating an unique signaling pathway from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, which regulates p53 and c-Myc levels in these neurons during apoptosis.