Objective Munc18 is considered as an intracellular protein that plays an important role in exocytosis of neurotransmitters.Previous studies have demonstrated the presence of autoantibodies against Munc18 in a subgroup of Rasmussen’s encephalitis patients.However,the machinery of Munc18 autoimmunity is still elusive.The present study was aimed to investigate Munc18 release from primary cultured neurons,Munc18 distribution on the outer plasma membrane of neurons,and the neurotoxicity of Munc18 antibody.Methods The cerebral cortical neurons from embryonic day 17 SpragueDawley rats were prepared and cultured in neurobasal medium.The proteins in culture medium were precipitated with 10% trichloroacetic acid,and analyzed by immunoblotting.The proteins on neuronal surface were biotinylated with EZ-Link-sulfoNHS-LC-Biotin,and collected with avidin-conjugated agarose beads followed by immunoblotting analysis.For cell surface immunofluorescent staining,the living neurons were labeled with anti-Munc18 antibody at 4 °C.Neuronal injury was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase（LDH） release.Results Munc18 was detected in culture medium by immunoblotting analysis.After treatment with 50 μmol/L glutamate for 1 h,Munc18 content in medium was increased.Meanwhile,β-actin and syntaxin1 were not detected in culture medium,and LDH release was not significantly increased.Moreover,glutamate enhanced Munc18 distribution on outer plasma membrane.Living neuron staining also demonstrated the localization of Munc18 on neuronal surface after glutamate treatment,especially at contacting regions between neurons.Glutamate-induced increase of surface Munc18 distribution was suppressed by NMDA receptor antagonist MK801,but not by AMPA receptor antagonist NBQX.Moreover,compared with c-Fos antibody,Munc18 antibody could induce neuronal injury,when culture medium contained the components of serum.Conclusion A portion of Munc18 can be released from neurons or distributed on neuronal surface,which can be enhanced by glutamate treatment via activat
