title: Von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein transforms human neuroblastoma cells into functional neuron-like cells.
abstract: Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor protein is expressed in neurons of the central nervous system and plays an important role during the neuronal differentiation of central nervous system progenitor cells. To elucidate the neuronal differentiating potential of VHL protein in neuroblastoma cells, we overexpressed or inhibited VHL protein in human neuroblastoma cells (SY-SH5Y), and examined the morphological change, expressions of neuronal markers, and electrophysiological functions. Here we show that with VHL gene transduction SY-SH5Y cells stably expressing the VHL protein had neurite-like processes with varicosities, showed the distinct expression of the neuronal markers neuropeptide Y and neurofilament 200, acquired regulated neurosecretion competence in response to depolarizing and cholinergic stimuli, and had large voltage-gated fast sodium currents and delayed rectifier potassium (Kv) currents compatible with those of functional neurons. In addition, they displayed inactivated ether-á-go-go potassium channels related to the promotion of the cell cycle and to the termination of differentiation. Also, by treatment with retinoic acid, they rapidly underwent cell death related to apoptosis. These findings suggest that the induction of neuronal function by VHL protein is associated with down-regulation of the cell cycle. In contrast, the inhibition of endogenous expression of VHL protein with antisense-orientated VHL gene transduction reduced such neuronal properties inherent to these cells, including the capacity for activation of ether-á-go-go channels. In conclusion, VHL protein has a neuronal differentiating potential to transform neuroblastoma cells into functional neuron-like cells. Our finding of the neuronal differentiation of neuroblastoma cells under the control of the VHL gene may contribute to the development of clinical techniques for neuronal regeneration in the case of intractable neuronal diseases and for differentiation therapy against neuroblastomas.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurosurgery, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan.
authors.forename: Hidetoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Nobuyoshi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tajima
authors.forename: Yoji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagashima
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okuda
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanno
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000502:physiology; D008025:Ligases / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D051794:Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein
chemical_list: D051638:Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D015221:Potassium Channels; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015222:Sodium Channels; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C051774:neurofilament protein H; D014212:Tretinoin; D044767:Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases; D051794:Von Hippel-Lindau Tumor Suppressor Protein; D008025:Ligases; C497446:VHL protein, human