Nr4a2 Transcription Factor in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Memory and Cognitive Dysfunction : A Perspective Review
Català-Solsona, Judit (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas)
Miñano Molina, Alfredo Jesús (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Bioquímica i de Biologia Molecular)
Rodríguez Álvarez, José (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Bioquímica i de Biologia Molecular)

Date:	2021
Abstract:	Long-lasting changes of synaptic efficacy are largely mediated by activity-induced gene transcription and are essential for neuronal plasticity and memory. In this scenario, transcription factors have emerged as pivotal players underlying synaptic plasticity and the modification of neural networks required for memory formation and consolidation. Hippocampal synaptic dysfunction is widely accepted to underlie the cognitive decline observed in some neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, understanding the molecular pathways regulating gene expression profiles may help to identify new synaptic therapeutic targets. The nuclear receptor 4A subfamily (Nr4a) of transcription factors has been involved in a variety of physiological processes within the hippocampus, ranging from inflammation to neuroprotection. Recent studies have also pointed out a role for the activity-dependent nuclear receptor subfamily 4, group A, member 2 (Nr4a2/Nurr1) in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and cognitive functions, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. In this review, we highlight the specific effects of Nr4a2 in hippocampal synaptic plasticity and memory formation and we discuss whether the dysregulation of this transcription factor could contribute to hippocampal synaptic dysfunction, altogether suggesting the possibility that Nr4a2 may emerge as a novel synaptic therapeutic target in brain pathologies associated to cognitive dysfunctions.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación SAF2017-89271-R Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2020-117510RB-I00 Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo CB06/05/0042 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2017/SGR-0749
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article de revisió ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Nr4a2 ; Transcription factor ; Hippocampus ; Synaptic plasticity ; Brain ; Learning ; Memory
Published in:	Frontiers in molecular neuroscience, Vol. 14 (november 2021) , ISSN 1662-5099

DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.786226
PMID: 34880728

13 p, 1.7 MB

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