Calcineurin/NFAT-induced up-regulation of the Fas ligand/Fas death pathway is involved in methamphetamine-induced neuronal apoptosis.

ABSTRACT: Methamphetamine [METH ("speed")] is an abused psychostimulant that can cause psychotic, cognitive, and psychomotor impairment in humans. These signs and symptoms are thought to be related to dysfunctions in basal ganglionic structures of the brain. To identify possible molecular bases for these clinical manifestations, we first used cDNA microarray technology to measure METH-induced transcriptional responses in the striatum of rats treated with an apoptosis-inducing dose of the drug. METH injection resulted in increased expression of members of the Jun, Egr, and Nur77 subfamilies of transcription factors (TFs), changes that were confirmed by quantitative PCR. Because pathways linked to these factors are involved in the up-regulation of Fas ligand (FasL), FasL mRNA was quantified and found

SUBMITTER: Jayanthi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC545515 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature