Cleavage of proBDNF by tPA/Plasmin Is Essential for Long-Term Hippocampal Plasticity
Abstract
Long-term memory is thought to be mediated by protein synthesis–dependent, late-phase long-term potentiation (L-LTP). Two secretory proteins, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), have been implicated in this process, but their relationship is unclear. Here we report that tPA, by activating the extracellular protease plasmin, converts the precursor proBDNF to the mature BDNF (mBDNF), and that such conversion is critical for L-LTP expression in mouse hippocampus. Moreover, application of mBDNF is sufficient to rescue L-LTP when protein synthesis is inhibited, which suggests that mBDNF is a key protein synthesis product for L-LTP expression.
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Although application of proBDNF failed to affect basal transmission and L-LTP, it facilitated NMDA receptor–dependent LTD in the hippocampus. In 8-week-old, wild-type hippocampal slices, LTD induced by low-frequency stimulation (LFS; 1 Hz, 15 min) was significantly higher (29.5 ± 2.4%, n = 11) in slices treated with proBDNF as compared to untreated slices (8.0 ± 6.6%, n = 10) (P < 0.01).
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Plasmin is known to degrade a variety of substrates, including the extracellular matrix proteins laminin, fibrin, and fibronectin; such degradation leads to cell death. In our own work, we found that plasmin caused detrimental effects to L-LTP in wild-type slices if treated more than 2 hours. In contrast, a short-term exposure was without effect. Thus, to avoid the damaging effect of long-term plasmin exposure, we used a protocol that treated the slices for only 60 min. As indicated in Fig. 4C, this short-term treatment was sufficient to rescue the L-LTP defects.
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We thank R. Desimone and members of the Lu laboratory for the thoughtful comments and suggestions, and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals for providing recombinant BDNF. Supported by the NICHD intramural research program (B.L.) and NIH grant NS30658 (B.L.H.). Molecular interaction data have been deposited in the Biomolecular Interaction Network Database with accession code 153566.
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Science
Volume 306 | Issue 5695
15 October 2004
15 October 2004
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American Association for the Advancement of Science.
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Received: 10 May 2004
Accepted: 26 August 2004
Published in print: 15 October 2004
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