Apoptosis induced by beta-amyloid25-35 in acetylcholinesterase-overexpressing neuroblastoma cells.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between apoptosis induced by beta-amyloid fragment 25-35 (A beta 25-35) and the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in AChE over-expresser--SC42 cells.


METHODS
Cell survival was measured by microscopy and MTT reduction; DNA laddering was observed by electrophoresis; AChE activity was determined by spectrophotometry.


RESULTS
A beta 25-35 1 micromol/L exposure for 24-48 h caused a significant decrease in cell viability, along with changes in morphology and DNA fragmentation. AChE activity was affected in an inverse manner, increasing gradually to a level that was 1.7-fold higher than control at the 48-h time point. No change in the cytotoxicity of A beta 25-35 was observed when the increased AChE activities were effectively inhibited by huperzine A throughout the 48-h exposure period.


CONCLUSIONS
Although A beta 25-35 can induce apoptosis in SC42 cells and simultaneously increase AChE activity, the capacity of AChE to hydrolyze acetylcholine is not involved in this apoptosis model.
Zhang
Hai-Yan
HY
State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
Brimijoin
Stephen
S
Tang
Xi-Can
XC
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000470:Alkaloids; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D051379:Mice; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000473:pathology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000470:Alkaloids; D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C074636:amyloid beta-protein (25-35); C050426:huperzine A; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase