title: Transforming growth factor-beta protects human hNT cells from degeneration induced by beta-amyloid peptide: involvement of the TGF-beta type II receptor.
abstract: Post-mitotic, human neurons (hNT cells) which have a phenotype similar to that of terminally differentiated neurons of the central nervous system were generated by treating the NT2/D1 human teratocarcinoma cell line with retinoic acid. Treatment of both hNT and NT2/D1 cells with 10(-5) M beta-amyloid peptide fragment 25-35 (A beta P) for 24 h resulted in a decrease in cell viability as determined by MTT incorporation and Trypan blue exclusion, and also induced an apoptotic morphology in hNT cells. Pre-treatment of cells for 24 h with 10 ng/ml TGF-beta 1 or 2 before addition of A beta P reduced the apoptotic morphology of hNT cells and increased cell viability in hNT cells, but not in NT2/D1 cells. Results of RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and analysis of receptor cross-linking of [125I]TGF-beta 1 to the cell membrane, all showed that the TGF-beta type II receptor is expressed by hNT cells, but not NT2/D1 cells. These results suggest that TGF-beta can protect human, terminally differentiated, TGF-beta type II receptor-positive neurons from A beta P toxicity. We propose that the increased expression of TGF-beta in brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease may offer some degree of neuroprotection if neurons also express a functional TGF-beta type II receptor.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemoprevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Hawver
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Flanders
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D009410:Nerve Degeneration; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D010641:Phenotype; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C074636:amyloid beta-protein (25-35); D014212:Tretinoin