Tryptophan and its metabolite, kynurenine, stimulate expression of nerve growth factor in cultured mouse astroglial cells.
Effects of L-tryptophan and its metabolites were evaluated on expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) in primary culture of mouse astroglial cells. L-Tryptophan produced concentration-dependent increases in accumulation of NGF transcripts in the cells. L-Kynurenine, a metabolite of the kynurenine pathway, markedly increased the levels of mRNAs for NGF, the maximal increases (4-5 fold) occurred at its dose of 1 microM. Kynurenine-induced increase in mRNA levels for NGF occurred as early as 1 h after the addition of the compound, peaked at 4 h and declined thereafter. In contrast to kynurenine, other tryptophan metabolites such as quinolinic acid, kynurenic acid and serotonin had little effect on the levels of NGF mRNA.
Dong-Ruyl
L
L
Nagoya University Bioscience Center, Chikusa, Japan.
Sawada
M
M
Nakano
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007736:Kynurenic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D017378:Quinolinic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012701:Serotonin; D007737:Kynurenine; D014364:Tryptophan; D017378:Quinolinic Acid; D007736:Kynurenic Acid