title: Antidepressants upregulate messenger RNA levels of the neuroprotective enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD1).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of amitriptyline, bupropion, doxepin or venlafaxine on the gene expression of the neuroprotective enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD1) in a catecholamine cell in vitro model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Molecular study of a cultured cell line.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells were incubated in 1 and 10 mumol/L of various antidepressant medications for 24 or 48 hours.
  
  
  METHODS
  Northern blot analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amitriptyline up-regulated SOD1 messenger RNA in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The greatest up-regulation was following incubation with 10 mumol/L amitriptyline for 48 hours. The addition of bupropion, doxepin or venlafaxine to PC12 cell cultures also up-regulated SOD1 mRNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that some antidepressants have the ability to positively regulate neuroprotective genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. lixinm@sask.usask.ca
authors.forename: X M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chlan-Fourney
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Juorio
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shrikhande
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bowen
mesh_terms: D000639:Amitriptyline / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016642:Bupropion / Q000494:pharmacology; D003511:Cyclohexanols / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004316:Doxepin / Q000494:pharmacology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003511:Cyclohexanols; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016642:Bupropion; D004316:Doxepin; D000639:Amitriptyline; D000069470:Venlafaxine Hydrochloride; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase