Glucocorticoids produced by the adrenal cortex exert many effects in the central nervous system ranging from spatial learning and cognition to stress and depression. Although high levels of glucocorticoids can be detrimental, in moderate concentrations, they can facilitate synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and neuronal cell survival. The neuroprotective, anti-anxiety, and metabolic effects of glucocorticoids are carried out by the glucocorticoid receptor, which is abundantly expressed in the brain. Interestingly, the effects of glucocorticoids upon neuronal circuits are also strongly influenced by neurotrophins, such as Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). However, the molecular mechanism of this regulation has not been explored. Recent evidence from our laboratories indicates there is bi-directional signaling between glucocorticoids and neurotrophins. For example, while BDNF signals through a Trk receptor tyrosine kinase, glucocorticoid receptor can bypass the need for BDNF and activate Trk signaling in neuronal cells (Jeanneteau et al PNAS 2008). In a reciprocal interaction, we have recently found that BDNF treatment promotes the phosphorylation of glucocorticoid receptor in neurons at several newly discovered sites. This proposal will dissect the biological consequences of BDNF-dependent phosphorylation of glucocorticoid receptor. Our hypothesis is that by altering phosphorylation, BDNF modulates glucocorticoid receptor gene regulatory functions, which in turn affects hippocampal-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. These studies will begin to define the molecular mechanisms that affect feedback control and activity of the HPA system, and provide insight into how glucocorticoids and BDNF influence adaptive and maladaptive actions that are relevant to memory formation, stress response and depression.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH086651-05
Application #
8464789
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-MDCN-P (03))
Program Officer
Desmond, Nancy L
Project Start
2009-09-08
Project End
2014-04-30
Budget Start
2013-05-01
Budget End
2014-04-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$488,927
Indirect Cost
$199,621
Name
New York University
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
121911077
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10016
Joe, Peter; Getz, Mara; Redman, Samantha et al. (2018) Transglutaminase-5 related schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 193:477-479
Kranz, Thorsten M; Berns, Adam; Shields, Jerry et al. (2016) Phenotypically distinct subtypes of psychosis accompany novel or rare variants in four different signaling genes. EBioMedicine 6:206-214
Malaspina, Dolores; Kranz, Thorsten M; Heguy, Adriana et al. (2016) Prefrontal neuronal integrity predicts symptoms and cognition in schizophrenia and is sensitive to genetic heterogeneity. Schizophr Res 172:94-100
Kranz, Thorsten M; Harroch, Sheila; Manor, Orly et al. (2015) De novo mutations from sporadic schizophrenia cases highlight important signaling genes in an independent sample. Schizophr Res 166:119-24
Kranz, Thorsten M; Goetz, Ray R; Walsh-Messinger, Julie et al. (2015) Rare variants in the neurotrophin signaling pathway implicated in schizophrenia risk. Schizophr Res 168:421-8
Arango-Lievano, Margarita; Lambert, W Marcus; Bath, Kevin G et al. (2015) Neurotrophic-priming of glucocorticoid receptor signaling is essential for neuronal plasticity to stress and antidepressant treatment. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:15737-42
Deinhardt, Katrin; Chao, Moses V (2014) Shaping neurons: Long and short range effects of mature and proBDNF signalling upon neuronal structure. Neuropharmacology 76 Pt C:603-9
Peffer, Melanie E; Chandran, Uma R; Luthra, Soumya et al. (2014) Caveolin-1 regulates genomic action of the glucocorticoid receptor in neural stem cells. Mol Cell Biol 34:2611-23
Jeanneteau, F; Chao, M V (2013) Are BDNF and glucocorticoid activities calibrated? Neuroscience 239:173-95
Liston, Conor; Cichon, Joseph M; Jeanneteau, Freddy et al. (2013) Circadian glucocorticoid oscillations promote learning-dependent synapse formation and maintenance. Nat Neurosci 16:698-705

Showing the most recent 10 out of 15 publications