Protein kinase C epsilon controls metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 calcium signaling and its potential implication in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract

The metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) represents the glutamate sensor of astrocytes and is thought to participate in the regulation of diverse astrocytic functions. The mGluR5 has the particularity to show distinct calcium patterns upon activation including sustained calcium mobilization or calcium oscillations. In our laboratory, we are convinced that these patterns differently impact on the mGluR5-mediated regulation of astrocytic functions. In this thesis, we highlight that mGluR5 activation associated with calcium oscillations protects against receptor desensitization while sustained calcium mobilization is associated with robust desensitization. In addition, we demonstrate that calcium oscillations induced by mGluR5 activation regulate the astrocytic glutamate transport while sustained calcium mobilization has no effect. We also add new insight into the role of PKC epsilon, by showing its implication in the regulation of mGluR5 calcium oscillations.(ART - Art et sciences de l'art) -- UCL, 201