title: CNTF up-regulation of TIMP-2 in neuroblastoma cells.
abstract: The ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) can regulate survival and differentiation of many types of developing and adult neurons; in metastatic SK-N-BE neuroblastoma cells, it promotes differentiation and neurite outgrowth. The expression of Gelatinase A (MMP-2) and its specific tissue inhibitor (TIMP-2), a degradative system whose balance is involved in matrix invasion and metastasis, was investigated in SK-N-BE cells cultured with and without CNTF or NGF. Zymographic analysis of conditioned media revealed that the cells constitutively secrete two gelatinases, mainly pro-MMP-2 but also traces of pro-MMP-9. In a time-course experiment in the presence of 25 ng/ml of CNTF, the MMP-2 mRNA expression showed no significant modulation, while TIMP-2 mRNA up-regulated to > 2-fold after 48 h and then fell dramatically. At the same concentrations, NGF showed no effect. TIMP-2 mRNA expression showed a dose-dependent increase of up to 8-fold from 1 to 250 ng/ml of CNTF and increased secretion of TIMP-2 was confirmed by Western blotting. MMP-2 was only slightly over-expressed under the same conditions, at either mRNA or protein level, with no correlation with neurocytokine concentration. These results suggest that boosting the expression of TIMP-2 by CNTF could restrain both matrix degradation following nervous system injury and neuroblastoma aggressiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, CRIBI, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Negro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onisto
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pellati
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garbisa
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D020934:Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor; D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D018093:Gelatinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C069860:progelatinase; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2