Activation of Adenosine A2A Receptor Up-Regulates BDNF Expression in Rat Primary Cortical Neurons

• Published in: Neurochemical research Vol. 36; no. 12; pp. 2259 - 2269
• Main Authors: Jeon, Se Jin, Rhee, So Young, Ryu, Jong Hoon, Cheong, Jae Hoon, Kwon, Kyungja, Yang, Sung-IL, Park, Seung Hwa, Lee, Jongmin, Kim, Hahn Young, Han, Seol-Heui, Ko, Kwang Ho, Shin, Chan Young
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01.12.2011
• Subjects: Adenosine - analogs & derivatives; Adenosine - pharmacology; Adenosine A2 Receptor Agonists - pharmacology; Adenosine A2 Receptor Antagonists - pharmacology; Animals; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor - metabolism; Cell Biology; Cells, Cultured; Cerebral Cortex - metabolism; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; Neurochemistry; Neurology; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - metabolism; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Phenethylamines - pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Receptor, Adenosine A2A - metabolism; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Signal Transduction - physiology; Up-Regulation; ERK1/2; CREB; receptor; CGS21680; BDNF; Adenosine A2; ZM241385
• DOI: 10.1007/s11064-011-0550-y
• ISSN: 0364-3190

As a member of neurotrophin family, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays critical roles in neuronal development, differentiation, synaptogenesis, and neural protection from the harmful stimuli. There have been reported that adenosine A2 A receptor subtype is widely distributed in the brain regions, such as hippocampus, striatum, and cortex. Adenosine A2 A receptor is colocalized with BDNF in brain regions and the functional interaction between A2 A receptor stimulation and BDNF action has been suggested. In this study, we investigated the possibility that the activation of A2 A receptor modulates BDNF production in rat primary cortical neuron. CGS21680, an adenosine A2 A receptor agonist, induced BDNF expression and release. An antagonist against A2 A receptor, ZM241385, prevented CGS21680-induced increase in BDNF production. A2 A receptor stimulation induced the activation of Akt-GSK-3β signaling pathway and the blockade of the signaling pathway with specific inhibitors abolished the increase in BDNF production, possibly via modulation of ERK1/2-CREB pathway. The physiological roles of A2 A receptor-induced BDNF production was demonstrated by the protection of neurons from the excitotoxicity and increased neurite extension as well as synapse formation from immature and mature neurons. Taken together, activation of A2 A receptor regulates BDNF production in rat cortical neuron, which provides neuro-protective action.