title: Ascorbic acid upregulates myelin gene expression in C6 glioma cells.
abstract: The effect of ascorbic acid (AA) on rat glioma C6 cells was studied. At physiological AA concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mM, no morphological and no proliferative alterations in the C6 cultures were detectable. Although the total RNA content per cell was not affected by the AA-treatment, AA upregulated the expression of myelin-specific genes, i.e. proteolipid protein (PLP) and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) genes as assessed by northern blot analysis. The steady-state level of the specific mRNAs increased transiently in the AA-treated cells. Three days after AA administration the message level reached a maximum of 10- and 2-fold over control for the PLP and MAG genes, respectively. The upregulation of the genes was directly related to AA concentration. The present data indicate a possible involvement of AA in the regulation of myelin gene activity in the CNS.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects*; D005910:Glioma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009185:Myelin Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018991:Myelin Proteolipid Protein; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D009185:Myelin Proteins; D018991:Myelin Proteolipid Protein; D018992:Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001205:Ascorbic Acid