Stimulatory effects of 4-methylcatechol, dopamine and levodopa on the expression of metallothionein-III (GIF) mRNA in immortalized mouse brain glial cells (VR-2g).
Metallothionein (MT)-III, originally discovered as a growth inhibitory factor (GIF), is a brain specific isomer of MTs and is markedly reduced in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients (AD) and in several other neurodegenerative diseases. We analyzed the level and regulation of mRNA expression of MT-III in immortalized fetal mouse brain glial cells (VR-2g) by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The basal expression level of MT-III mRNA is very low in VR-2g cells. 4-Methylcatechol, dopamine (DA) and levodopa (l-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine), which stimulate the synthesis of nerve growth factor (NGF), further increased the expression of MT-III mRNA in VR-2g cells.
Aoki
C
C
Department of Pharmacology, Okayama University Dental School, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700, Japan.
Nakanishi
T
T
Sogawa
N
N
Ishii
K
K
Ogawa
N
N
Takigawa
M
M
Furuta
H
H
D000818:Animals; D002396:Catechols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000090023:Metallothionein 3; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
D002396:Catechols; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D000090023:Metallothionein 3; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C018599:4-methylcatechol; D007980:Levodopa; D004298:Dopamine