Reduced synaptic STIM2 expression and impaired store-operated calcium entry cause destabilization of mature spines in mutant presenilin mice

Suya Sun, Hua Zhang, Jie Liu, Elena Popugaeva, Nan Jie Xu, Stefan Feske, Charles L. White, Ilya Bezprozvanny

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

216 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mushroom dendritic spine structures are essential for memory storage, and the loss of mushroom spines may explain memory defects in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we show a significant reduction in the fraction of mushroom spines in hippocampal neurons from the presenilin-1 M146V knockin (KI) mouse model of familial AD (FAD). The stabilization of mushroom spines depends on STIM2-mediated neuronal store-operated calcium influx (nSOC) and continuous activity of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). We demonstrate that STIM2-nSOC-CaMKII pathway is compromised in KI neurons, in aging neurons, and in sporadic AD brains due to downregulation of STIM2 protein. We further establish that overexpression of STIM2 rescues synaptic nSOC, CaMKII activity, and mushroom spine loss in KI neurons. Our results identify STIM2-nSOC-CaMKII synaptic maintenance pathway as a novel potential therapeutic target for treatment of AD and age-related memory decline.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)79-93
Number of pages15
JournalNeuron
Volume82
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience

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