title: Tetrahydrobiopterin as a mediator of PC12 cell proliferation induced by EGF and NGF.
abstract: Epidermal growth factor and nerve growth factor increased the proliferation of rat phaeochromocytoma PC12 cells through obligatory elevation of intracellular (6R)-tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). Epidermal growth factor and nerve growth factor increased intracellular BH4 by inducing GTP-cyclohydrolase, the rate-limiting enzyme in BH4 biosynthesis. Specific inhibitors of BH4 biosynthesis prevented growth factor-induced increases in BH4 levels and proliferation. The induction of GTP cyclohydrolase, BH4 and cellular proliferation by nerve growth factor was mediated by cAMP. Elevation of BH4 biosynthesis occurred downstream from cAMP in the cascade used by nerve growth factor to increase proliferation. Thus, intracellular BH4 is an essential mediator of the proliferative effects of epidermal growth factor and nerve growth factor in PC12 cells.
authors.affiliation: William T. Gossett Neurology Laboratories of Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
authors.forename: P Z
authors.initials: PZ
authors.lastname: Anastasiadis
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bezin
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Imerman
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Louie
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D001708:Biopterins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D000242:Cyclic AMP; C003402:sapropterin