Home >> European Journal of Cell Biology, Volume 81, Number 6

Subtype-specific neuronal differentiation of PC12 cells transfected with alpha2-adrenergic receptors

Authors: Taraviras S.1; Olli-Lähdesmäki T.2; Lymperopoulos A.1; Charitonidou D.1; Mavroidis M.1; Kallio J.2; Scheinin M.2; Flordellis C.1

Source: European Journal of Cell Biology, Volume 81, Number 6, 1 June 2002 , pp. 363-374(12)

Publisher: Urban & Fischer

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Abstract:

Cells of the PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cell line acquire characteristics of sympathetic neurons under appropriate treatment. Stably transfected PC12 cells expressing individual alpha2-adrenergic receptor (alpha2-AR) subtypes were used to assess the role of alpha2-ARs in neuronal differentiation and to characterise the signalling pathways activated by the alpha2-AR agonist epinephrine in these cells. The effects of alpha2-AR activation were compared with the differentiating action and the signalling mechanisms of nerve growth factor (NGF). Epinephrine induced neuronal differentiation of PC12alpha2 cells through alpha2-AR activation in a subtype-dependent manner, internalization of all human alpha2-AR subtypes, and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the serine-threonine protein kinase Akt. Epinephrine and NGF showed synergism in their differentiating effects. The MAPK kinase (MEK-1) inhibitor PD 98059 abolished the differentiating effect of epinephrine indicating that the differentiation is dependent on MAPK activation. Activating protein-1 (AP-1) DNA-binding activity was increased after epinephrine treatment in all three PC12alpha2 subtype clones. Evaluation of the potential physiological consequences of these findings requires further studies on endogenously expressed alpha2-ARs in neuronal cells.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1078/0171-9335-00250

Affiliations: 1: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Rio Patras/Greece 2: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Turku, Turku/Finland

Publication date: 2002-06-01

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