Role of Akt-independent mTORC1 and GSK3ß signaling in sublethal NMDA-induced injury and the recovery of neuronal electrophysiology and survival.

ABSTRACT

Glutamate-induced excitotoxicity, mediated by overstimulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, is a mechanism that causes secondary damage to neurons. The early phase of injury causes loss of dendritic spines and changes to synaptic activity. The phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/Akt/ mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) pathway has been implicated in the modulation and regulation of synaptic strength, activity, maturation, and axonal regeneration. The present study focuses on the physiology and survival of neurons following manipulation of Akt and several downstream targets, such as GSK3ß, FOXO1, and mTORC1, prior to NMDA-induced injury. Our analysis reveals that exposure to sublethal levels of NMDA does not alter phosphorylation of Akt, S6, and GSK3ß at two and twenty four hours following injury. Electrophysiological recordings show that NMDA-induced injury causes a significant decrease in spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents at both two and twenty four hours, and this phenotype can be prevented by inhibiting mTORC1 or GSK3ß, but not Akt. Additionally, inhibition of mTORC1 or GSK3ß promotes neuronal survival following NMDA-induced injury. Thus, NMDA-induced excitotoxicity involves a mechanism that requires the permissive activity of mTORC1 and GSK3ß, demonstrating the importance of these kinases in the neuronal response to injury.