Research article
NADPH oxidase mediates the oxygen-glucose deprivation/reperfusion-induced increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR2A subunit in retinoic acid differentiated SH-SY5Y Cells
1 From the Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Center for Structural and Functional Neuroscience, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
2 Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Health Professions and Biomedical Science, Skaggs Building 394, The University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
Journal of Molecular Signaling 2012, 7:15 doi:10.1186/1750-2187-7-15
Published: 8 September 2012Abstract
Background
Evidence exists that oxidative stress promotes the tyrosine phosphorylation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits during post-ischemic reperfusion of brain tissue. Increased tyrosine phosphorylation of NMDAR NR2A subunits has been reported to potentiate receptor function and exacerbate NMDAR-induced excitotoxicity. Though the effect of ischemia on tyrosine phosphorylation of NMDAR subunits has been well documented, the oxidative stress signaling cascades mediating the enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2A subunits remain unclear.
Results
We report that the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generator NADPH oxidase mediates an oxidative stress-signaling cascade involved in the increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the NR2A subunit in post-ischemic differentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase attenuated the increased tyrosine phosphorylation of the NMDAR NR2A subunit, while inhibition of ROS production from mitochondrial or xanthine oxidase sources failed to dampen the post-ischemic increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of the NR2A subunit. Additionally, inhibition of NADPH oxidase blunted the interaction of activated Src Family Kinases (SFKs) with PSD-95 induced by ischemia/reperfusion. Lastly, inhibition of NADPH oxidase also markedly reduced cell death in post-ischemic SH-SY5Y cells stimulated by NMDA.
Conclusions
These data indicate that NADPH oxidase has a key role in facilitating NMDAR NR2A tyrosine phosphorylation via SFK activation during post-ischemic reperfusion.
