title: Involvement of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in activation of tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine beta-hydroxylase gene expression in PC12 cells.
abstract: Nicotine treatment increases intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration [Ca(2+)](i), stimulates catecholamine release, and elevates gene expression for the catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH). However, the type of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) mediating these events is unclear. The nAChR receptor antagonists alpha-bungarotoxin (alphaBTX) and methyllycaconitine greatly reduced the nicotine-triggered initial transient rise in [Ca(2+)](i) and prevented the second prolonged elevation of [Ca(2+)](i), suggesting the involvement of alpha7 nAChRs. Two specific alpha7 nicotinic agonists, 3-(2,4-dimethoxybenzilidene)anabaseine (DMXB) and E, E-3-(cinnamylidene)anabaseine (3-CA), were found to elicit a small, delayed increase in [Ca(2+)](i) with kinetics and magnitude similar to the second elevation observed with nicotine. This increase was inhibited by the inositol trisphosphate receptor antagonist xestospongin C. Exposure to 3-CA or DMXB for 6 or 24 h elevated TH and DBH mRNA levels two- to fourfold over control levels. These agonists were more effective than nicotine alone in increasing TH and DBH gene expression and significantly elevated [Ca(2+)](i) for up to 6 h. The increase in [Ca(2+)](i) or the elevation in TH mRNA by 3-CA was completely inhibited by alphaBTX. This study, for the first time, implicates stimulation of alpha7 nAChRs in the activation of TH and DBH gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York 10595, USA.
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Gueorguiev
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Zeman
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Sabban
mesh_terms: D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015870:Gene Expression; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D016716:PC12 Cells; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor
chemical_list: C579165:Chrna7 protein, rat; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D018733:Nicotinic Antagonists; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D064569:alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor; D009538:Nicotine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D002118:Calcium