Nerve growth factor stimulates MAPK via the low affinity receptor p75(LNTR)

FEBS Lett. 1999 Dec 17;463(3):231-4. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(99)01628-2.

Abstract

Apart from its high affinity receptor TrkA, nerve growth factor (NGF) can also stimulate the low affinity receptor p75(LNTR) and induce a Trk-independent signaling cascade. We examined the possible involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in this signaling pathway in neuronal cultures of the cerebellum of P2-aged rats and PCNA cells; both cell types express p75(LNTR) but not TrkA. We found a fast and transient phosphorylation of p42- and p44-MAPK after stimulation with NGF or C(2)-ceramide which proved to be sensitive to inhibition of MAPK kinase and protein kinase A (PKA). As stimulation with NGF also activated p21Ras it can be concluded that at least part of the observed MAPK activation was effected via p21Ras and via PKA.

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / metabolism
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Nerve Growth Factor / pharmacology*
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Oncogene Protein p21(ras) / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Rats
  • Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / drug effects*
  • Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Sphingosine / analogs & derivatives
  • Sphingosine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • N-acetylsphingosine
  • Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor
  • Nerve Growth Factor
  • Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • Oncogene Protein p21(ras)
  • Sphingosine