title: Ethanol inhibits neural cell-cell adhesion.
abstract: Gestational exposure to ethanol causes defects in neuronal migration, fasciculation, and synaptogenesis, developmental events that depend on the patterned expression and function of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). Recombinant human osteogenic protein-1 (hOP-1) increases cell-cell adhesion and promotes cell clustering in proliferating neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid NG108-15 cells by strongly inducing N-CAM and L1. Here we show that concentrations of ethanol achieved during social drinking inhibit hOP-1-induced cell clustering without affecting cell proliferation, the induction and cell surface expression of N-CAM and L1, or the alternative splicing and sialylation of N-CAM. This inhibition was reproduced by other alcohols in proportion to their chain length, but not by teratogenic anticonvulsants or phenylalanine. Ethanol inhibition of hOP-1 morphogenesis was inversely proportional to the concentration of hOP-1 and, hence, to the levels of N-CAM and L1. Low concentrations of ethanol (IC50 5-10 mM) inhibited cell-cell adhesion in hOP-1-treated cells, and this action too was reproduced more potently by propanol and butanol. Ethanol may perturb brain and skeletal development by inhibiting CAM-mediated cell-cell interactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02132.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Charness
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Safran
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perides
mesh_terms: D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000187:drug effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013723:Teratogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; C525819:BMP7 protein, human; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011506:Proteins; D013723:Teratogens; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000431:Ethanol