title: Association of increased bcl-2 expression with rescue from tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced cell death in the oligodendrocyte cell line OLN-93.
abstract: The present study investigated the effects of flupirtine (Katadolon) on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-mediated cell death and Bcl-2 expression in the permanent rat oligodendrocyte cell line OLN-93 (OLN cells). TNF-alpha (500 U/ml) induced apoptosis of OLN cells, which was confirmed by DNA fragmentation using an in situ end-labeling technique and ultrastructural analysis. Flupirtine significantly reduced the rate of spontaneous cell death of OLN cells already at low concentrations; TNF-alpha-mediated apoptosis was suppressed only with higher concentrations of flupirtine (100 microM:). Expression of Bcl-2 protein and mRNA in OLN cells was detected by immunocytochemistry, western blot, and RT-PCR. Quantitative analysis of western blots revealed an approximately 2. 5-fold up-regulation of Bcl-2 protein during TNF-alpha treatment. Furthermore, addition of 10 or 100 microM: flupirtine before incubation with TNF-alpha led to an approximately threefold increase of Bcl-2 expression. Exposure of OLN cells to flupirtine alone moderately augmented the expression of Bcl-2 protein. Our data demonstrate that flupirtine up-regulates the expression of Bcl-2 protein in OLN cells; this Bcl-2 induction is associated with a reduced rate of TNF-alpha-induced cell death.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropathology, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burgmaier
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Schönrock
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuhlmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richter-Landsberg
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brück
mesh_terms: D000631:Aminopyridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000631:Aminopyridines; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C034161:flupirtine