title: Expression of protein kinase C-alpha (PKC-alpha) and MYCN mRNAs in human neuroblastoma cells and modulation during morphological differentiation induced by retinoic acid.
abstract: It is known that PKC is differently expressed in brain and the peripheral nervous system and is involved in cellular differentiation. We have analyzed 9 human neuronal-derived crest-cell lines for PKC-alpha mRNA. Seven out of nine expressed 9.0 kb and 4.0 kb PKC-alpha mRNAs, but three had high level of 9.0 kb transcription. The different expression of the two messenger RNAs may result from alternative splicing and a different degree of cell maturation. The same cell lines were studied for MYCN gene expression. A possible relation between the two genes is discussed. One cell line expressing high levels of both PKC-alpha mRNA was treated with 10(-5) M retinoic acid (RA). The expression of both messenger RNAs was suppressed when the cells achieved a morphological differentiation and showed neurite-like processes. A decrease of PKC-alpha gene expression was associated to down regulation of MYCN mRNA. These preliminary results suggest that PKC suppression of PKC-alpha mRNA is associated with reversion of the malignant phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, G. Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Tonini
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Di Martino
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Varesio
mesh_terms: D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009857:Oncogenes; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014212:Tretinoin; D011493:Protein Kinase C