title: Adrenergic differentiation potential in PC12 cells: influence of sodium butyrate and dexamethasone.
abstract: The ability of sodium butyrate and dexamethasone to promote adrenergic differentiation in PC12 cells was examined using the gene encoding the epinephrine biosynthetic enzyme, phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), as a marker. Sodium butyrate and dexamethasone independently stimulated expression of PNMT mRNA in PC12 cells, and the combined action of these drugs led to synergistic activation of the PNMT gene. Despite the induction of the PNMT gene, epinephrine is not produced in these cells, in part due to the absence of a corresponding induction in PNMT enzymatic activity. Another contributing factor appears to be a reduction in the precursor catecholamines, norepinephrine and dopamine, in the presence of sodium butyrate. Thus, while sodium butyrate and dexamethasone can induce PNMT gene expression, treatment of PC12 cells with these drugs appears insufficient for full acquisition of the adrenergic phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, CA 94305-5485, USA.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Ebert
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lindley
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Bengoechea
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bain
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D002087:Butyrates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020148:Butyric Acid; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D002087:Butyrates; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020148:Butyric Acid; D003907:Dexamethasone; D010625:Phenylethanolamine N-Methyltransferase