title: Protective effect of nerve growth factor against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in cultured cortical neurons.
abstract: The effect of recombinant human nerve growth factor (hNGF) and mouse NGF on cultured rat cortical neurons was examined. The DNA fragment coding the human NGF gene was isolated and inserted downstream from the SV40 promoter in a plasmid containing the dihydrofolate reductase cDNA, and this plasmid was introduced into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to establish cells producing recombinant hNGF. The recombinant hNGF protein secreted by CHO cells was confirmed to be biologically active in an assay using PC12 cells. Brief exposure of cortical cells to glutamate followed by incubation with glutamate-free medium reduced cell viability by 60-70% when compared with the control culture. Simultaneous addition of recombinant hNGF or mouse NGF to rat cortical cultures with glutamate did not affect this reduction of cell viability. However, 24 h pretreatment of rat cortical cultures with recombinant hNGF or mouse NGF resulted in a significant reduction of glutamate-induced neuronal damage. Mouse NGF also protected cortical neurons against N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)- and kainate-induced neuronal damage. These findings suggest that NGF can protect cortical neurons against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shimohama
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akaike
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsukahara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwata
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D005971:Glutamates / Q000633:toxicity*; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000633:toxicity; D051379:Mice; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D005971:Glutamates; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009498:Neurotoxins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D013762:Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase; D008727:Methotrexate