Differentially expressed genes in hippocampal cell cultures in response to an excitotoxic insult by quinolinic acid

The NMDA-type glutamate receptor agonist quinolinic acid (QA), which causes tissue lesions in the rat brain as well as cell loss in neuronal cultures, is widely used in models of glutamate excitotoxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the alterations in gene expression in a primary hippocampal cell culture after exposure to QA. By means of differential mRNA display, we were able to pinpoint as many as 23 bands which appeared to be upregulated after a 6-h treatment with quinolinic acid. The differential expression of 13 cDNAs could be confirmed by dot blot and/or Northern analysis. Of the cDNAs, the p112 regulatory subunit of the 26S proteasome, a PDGF-associated protein and the glia-derived protease nexin PN-1 could be identified. The results provide emphasis to the participation of proteolysis and protease inhibition in neurodegenerative processes. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.