title: Transient transfection protects PC6-3 cells from apoptosis induced by nerve growth factor deprivation.
abstract: Some mammalian neurons undergo apoptosis after neurotrophin deprivation. We studied neuronally differentiated PC6-3 pheochromocytoma cells, which are highly dependent on nerve growth factor for survival. We found that transient transfection with green fluorescent protein or beta-galactosidase protected cells from apoptosis induced by nerve growth factor deprivation. Individual transfection reagent components did not produce increased viability of nerve growth factor-deprived cells. This apparent neuroprotective effect from transient transfection was specific to neurotrophin deprivation, as cells treated with H(2)O(2) or staurosporine were not protected. To determine the mechanism of neuroprotection after transfection, the transfection status of identified groups of cells was assessed both before and after nerve growth factor deprivation. The results were consistent with a model whereby cells that are transfected but not yet expressing the transfected protein are relatively protected from nerve growth factor deprivation. We suggest that apoptosis induced by neurotrophin deprivation may interact with processes of transient transfection and expression of foreign genes in neuronal cells. Not only should these interactions be considered in transient transfection studies of neurotrophin-deprived neurons, but also their elucidation could lead to novel methods for achieving neuroprotection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and the Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin Medical School, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792-4673, USA.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Schmehil
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D016716:PC12 Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D019311:Staurosporine