Mechanism of noradrenaline-induced α1-adrenoceptor mediated regulation of Na-K ATPase subunit expression in Neuro-2a cells

Rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) plays an important role in maintaining brain excitability by regulating noradrenaline (NA) level and Na-K ATPase activity. We showed earlier that REMS deprivation (REMSD) associated elevated NA increased neuronal, while decreased glial Na-K ATPase activity. However, our knowledge was insufficient on how the REMSD-associated effect is sustained particularly under chronic condition. Using Neuro-2a cells as a model, we investigated the molecular mechanism of NA-induced increase in mRNA expression of Na-K ATPase subunit and the enzyme activity. The cells were treated with NA in the presence or absence of either α1- or β-adrenoceptor (AR) antagonists, Ca++-channel blocker or SERCA-inhibitor, and PKA or PKC inhibitor. We observed that NA acting on α1-AR increased Na-K ATPase activity and mRNA expression of the catalytic α1- and α3-Na-K ATPase subunits in the Neuro-2a cells. Further, PLC and PKC mediated modulation of intracellular Ca++ played a critical role in inducing the mRNA expression. On the other hand NA, acting on β-AR up-regulated expression of the regulatory β1-subunit of Na-K ATPase. The involvement of SP1 as well as phospho-CREB transcription factors in the NA-mediated increased expression of various subunit isoforms was established. The results of this study along with that of earlier reports support our proposed working model of NA-induced increase in mRNA expression of specific Na-K ATPase subunit leading to increased Na-K ATPase activity. The findings help us understand the molecular mechanism of NA-induced increased brain excitability, for example, upon REMSD including under chronic condition.