A new insight into mechanisms of interferon alpha neurotoxicity: Expression of GRIN3A subunit of NMDA receptors and NMDA-evoked exocytosis

Neurological and psychiatric side effects accompany the high-dose interferon-alpha (IFNA) therapy. The primary genes responsible for these complications are mostly unknown. Our genome-wide search in mouse and rat genomes for the conservative genes containing IFN-stimulated response elements (ISRE) in their promoters revealed a new potential target gene of IFNA, Grin3α, which encodes the 3A subunit of NMDA receptor. This study aimed to explore the impact of IFNA on the expression of Grin3α and Ifnα genes and neurotransmitters endo/exocytosis in the mouse brain. We administered recombinant human IFN-alpha 2b (rhIFN-α2b) intracranially, and 24 h later, we isolated six brain regions and used the samples for RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. Synaptosomes were isolated from the cortex to analyze endo/exocytosis with acridine orange and L-[14C]glutamate. IFNA induced an increase in Grin3α mRNA and GRIN3A protein, but a decrease in Ifnα mRNA and protein. IFNA did not affect the accumulation and distribution of L-[14C]glutamate and acridine orange between synaptosomes and the extra-synaptosomal space. It caused the more significant acridine orange release activated by NMDA or glutamate than from control mice's synaptosomes. In response to IFNA, the newly discovered association between elevated Grin3α expression and NMDA- and glutamate-evoked neurotransmitters release from synaptosomes implies a new molecular mechanism of IFNA neurotoxicity. •The molecular mechanisms of interferon α neurotoxicity during the high-dose therapy are unknown.•By bioinformatics approach, we predicted the gene Grin3α as a new potential target gene of IFNA.•IFNA intracranial administration increased Grin3a expression and classical IFNA-target genes in the mouse brain.•IFNA induces increased NMDA-evoked neurotransmitters release and does not affect neurotransmitters accumulation.