Nr4a2 Transcription Factor in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Memory and Cognitive Dysfunction: A Perspective Review
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 r...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-11-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2021.786226/full |
| _version_ | 1819006454350217216 |
|---|---|
| author | Judit Català-Solsona Judit Català-Solsona Alfredo J. Miñano-Molina Alfredo J. Miñano-Molina José Rodríguez-Álvarez José Rodríguez-Álvarez José Rodríguez-Álvarez |
| author_facet | Judit Català-Solsona Judit Català-Solsona Alfredo J. Miñano-Molina Alfredo J. Miñano-Molina José Rodríguez-Álvarez José Rodríguez-Álvarez José Rodríguez-Álvarez |
| author_sort | Judit Català-Solsona |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:08:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-99a7cbcf432644129474a539475b73ca |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5099 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T00:08:56Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-99a7cbcf432644129474a539475b73ca2022-12-21T19:22:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience1662-50992021-11-011410.3389/fnmol.2021.786226786226Nr4a2 Transcription Factor in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Memory and Cognitive Dysfunction: A Perspective ReviewJudit Català-Solsona0Judit Català-Solsona1Alfredo J. Miñano-Molina2Alfredo J. Miñano-Molina3José Rodríguez-Álvarez4José Rodríguez-Álvarez5José Rodríguez-Álvarez6Departament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, SpainCentro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, SpainDepartament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, SpainCentro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, SpainDepartament de Bioquímica i Biologia Molecular, Institut de Neurociències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, SpainCentro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, SpainDominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United StatesLong-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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2021.786226/fullNr4a2transcription factorhippocampussynaptic plasticitybrainlearning |
| spellingShingle | Judit Català-Solsona Judit Català-Solsona Alfredo J. Miñano-Molina Alfredo J. Miñano-Molina José Rodríguez-Álvarez José Rodríguez-Álvarez José Rodríguez-Álvarez Nr4a2 Transcription Factor in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Memory and Cognitive Dysfunction: A Perspective Review Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience Nr4a2 transcription factor hippocampus synaptic plasticity brain learning |
| title | Nr4a2 Transcription Factor in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Memory and Cognitive Dysfunction: A Perspective Review |
| title_full | Nr4a2 Transcription Factor in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Memory and Cognitive Dysfunction: A Perspective Review |
| title_fullStr | Nr4a2 Transcription Factor in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Memory and Cognitive Dysfunction: A Perspective Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nr4a2 Transcription Factor in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Memory and Cognitive Dysfunction: A Perspective Review |
| title_short | Nr4a2 Transcription Factor in Hippocampal Synaptic Plasticity, Memory and Cognitive Dysfunction: A Perspective Review |
| title_sort | nr4a2 transcription factor in hippocampal synaptic plasticity memory and cognitive dysfunction a perspective review |
| topic | Nr4a2 transcription factor hippocampus synaptic plasticity brain learning |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2021.786226/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT juditcatalasolsona nr4a2transcriptionfactorinhippocampalsynapticplasticitymemoryandcognitivedysfunctionaperspectivereview AT juditcatalasolsona nr4a2transcriptionfactorinhippocampalsynapticplasticitymemoryandcognitivedysfunctionaperspectivereview AT alfredojminanomolina nr4a2transcriptionfactorinhippocampalsynapticplasticitymemoryandcognitivedysfunctionaperspectivereview AT alfredojminanomolina nr4a2transcriptionfactorinhippocampalsynapticplasticitymemoryandcognitivedysfunctionaperspectivereview AT joserodriguezalvarez nr4a2transcriptionfactorinhippocampalsynapticplasticitymemoryandcognitivedysfunctionaperspectivereview AT joserodriguezalvarez nr4a2transcriptionfactorinhippocampalsynapticplasticitymemoryandcognitivedysfunctionaperspectivereview AT joserodriguezalvarez nr4a2transcriptionfactorinhippocampalsynapticplasticitymemoryandcognitivedysfunctionaperspectivereview |