Protein kinase C-β mediates neuronal activation of Na(+)/H(+) exchanger-1 during glutamate excitotoxicity

Na(+)/H(+) exchanger-1 (NHE-1) activity is known to play a critical role in the neuronal injury caused by glutamate. However, the underlying mechanism is not clear. This study shows that NHE-1 activation and its phosphorylation during glutamate exposure were attenuated by the inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC)-βI and -βII, leading to reduced neuronal death. In addition, activations of PKC-βI and -βII by PKC-βI and -βII CAT plasmid or by PMA, PKC-β pharmacological activator have stimulated the activity and phosphorylation of NHE-1, which were abolished by inhibition of PKC-β in neuronal cells. Furthermore, the inhibition of PKC-β has mediated neuroprotective effect on glutamate-induced cells, which is similar to neuroprotective efficacy of siRNA NHE-1 transfection. Taken together, these results suggest that activation of the PKC-βI and -βII pathway by glutamate increases the activity and phosphorylation of NHE-1, and that these increases contribute to neuronal cell death. In this study, we demonstrate that PKC-βI and -βII are involved in the regulation of NHE-1 activation following glutamate exposure in neuron.