Modulation of AMPA receptor surface diffusion restores hippocampal plasticity and memory in Huntington's disease models

Nat Commun. 2018 Oct 15;9(1):4272. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-06675-3.

Abstract

Impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity contributes to cognitive impairment in Huntington's disease (HD). However, the molecular basis of such synaptic plasticity defects is not fully understood. Combining live-cell nanoparticle tracking and super-resolution imaging, we show that AMPAR surface diffusion, a key player in synaptic plasticity, is disturbed in various rodent models of HD. We demonstrate that defects in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-tyrosine receptor kinase B (TrkB) signaling pathway contribute to the deregulated AMPAR trafficking by reducing the interaction between transmembrane AMPA receptor regulatory proteins (TARPs) and the PDZ-domain scaffold protein PSD95. The disturbed AMPAR surface diffusion is rescued by the antidepressant drug tianeptine via the BDNF signaling pathway. Tianeptine also restores the impaired LTP and hippocampus-dependent memory in different HD mouse models. These findings unravel a mechanism underlying hippocampal synaptic and memory dysfunction in HD, and highlight AMPAR surface diffusion as a promising therapeutic target.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / metabolism
  • Diffusion
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hippocampus / drug effects
  • Hippocampus / metabolism
  • Hippocampus / pathology
  • Hippocampus / physiopathology*
  • Huntington Disease / metabolism
  • Huntington Disease / pathology
  • Huntington Disease / physiopathology*
  • Long-Term Potentiation / drug effects
  • Memory / drug effects
  • Memory / physiology*
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Neurogenesis / drug effects
  • Neuronal Plasticity / drug effects
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology*
  • Protein Transport / drug effects
  • Receptor, trkB / metabolism
  • Receptors, AMPA / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Synapses / drug effects
  • Synapses / metabolism
  • Thiazepines / pharmacology

Substances

  • Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
  • Receptors, AMPA
  • Thiazepines
  • tianeptine
  • Receptor, trkB