Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) enhances the effects of nerve growth factor on PC12 cells.
The rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12 responds readily to nerve growth factor (NGF) but poorly to ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF). However, in a selected line derived from PC12 that normally responded weakly to NGF, CNTF potentiated the effect of NGF with respect to inhibition of proliferation, neurite outgrowth, and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) induction. ChAT activity was assayed enzymatically, and an increase in the mRNA of ChAT was also detected by means of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The PCR product was verified by sequencing and by Southern hybridization using a specific oligonucleotide probe. The presence of CNTF receptor in PC12 cells was confirmed by RT-PCR for its mRNA. The results indicate that PC12 responds to CNTF mainly when used in combination with NGF, and suggest an interaction between the two growth factors.
Department of Neurology (Division of Neurochemistry and Neurobiology), University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City.
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W
Zhong
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A
Zaheer
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R
Lim
D000310:Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D017931:DNA Primers; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D016716:PC12 Cells; D010673:Pheochromocytoma; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D051381:Rats
D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D017931:DNA Primers; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase