Induction of GDNF and GFRα-1 Following AAV1-Rheb(S16H) Administration in the Hippocampus in vivo .

The activation of neurotrophic signaling pathways following the upregulation of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a member of the transforming growth factor-beta family, has a potential neuroprotective effect in the adult brain. Herein, We report that hippocampal transduction of adeno-associated virus serotype 1 (AAV1) with a constitutively active form of ras homolog enriched in brain [Rheb(S16H)], which can stimulate the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in hippocarnpal neurons, induces the increases in expression of GDNF and GDNF family receptor alpha-1 (GFR alpha-1), in neurons and astrocytes in the hippocampus of rat brain in vivo. Moreover, upregulation of GDNF and GFR alpha-1 contributes to neuroprotection against thrombin-induced neurotoxicity in the hippocampus. These results suggest that AAV1-Rheb(S16H) transduction of hippocampal neurons, resulting in neurotrophic interactions between neurons and astrocytes, may be useful for neuroprotection in the adult hippocampus.