eLife (Nov 2015)

Tissue acidosis induces neuronal necroptosis via ASIC1a channel independent of its ionic conduction

  • Yi-Zhi Wang,
  • Jing-Jing Wang,
  • Yu Huang,
  • Fan Liu,
  • Wei-Zheng Zeng,
  • Ying Li,
  • Zhi-Gang Xiong,
  • Michael X Zhu,
  • Tian-Le Xu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.05682
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4

Abstract

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Acidotoxicity is common among neurological disorders, such as ischemic stroke. Traditionally, Ca2+ influx via homomeric acid-sensing ion channel 1a (ASIC1a) was considered to be the leading cause of ischemic acidotoxicity. Here we show that extracellular protons trigger a novel form of neuronal necroptosis via ASIC1a, but independent of its ion-conducting function. We identified serine/threonine kinase receptor interaction protein 1 (RIP1) as a critical component of this form of neuronal necroptosis. Acid stimulation recruits RIP1 to the ASIC1a C-terminus, causing RIP1 phosphorylation and subsequent neuronal death. In a mouse model of focal ischemia, middle cerebral artery occlusion causes ASIC1a-RIP1 association and RIP1 phosphorylation in affected brain areas. Deletion of the Asic1a gene significantly prevents RIP1 phosphorylation and brain damage, suggesting ASIC1a-mediated RIP1 activation has an important role in ischemic neuronal injury. Our findings indicate that extracellular protons function as a novel endogenous ligand that triggers neuronal necroptosis during ischemia via ASIC1a independent of its channel function.

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