title: Melatonin attenuates beta-amyloid-induced inhibition of neurofilament expression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect of beta-amyloid (A beta) on metabolism of cytoskeletal protein neurofilament, and search for effective cure to the lesion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wild type murine neuroblastoma N2a (N2awt) and N2a stably transfected with wild type amyloid precursor protein (N2aAPP) were cultured. Sandwich ELISA, immunocytochemistry, and Western blot were used respectively to measure the level of A beta, the expression and phosphorylation of neurofilament proteins.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The immunoreactivity of neurofilament protein was almost abolished in N2aAPP, which beard a significantly higher level of A beta. Melatonin effectively decreased the level of A beta, and restored partially the level of phosphorylated and non-phosphorylated neurofilament in N2aAPP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overproduction of A beta inhibits neurofilament expression, and melatonin attenuates the A beta-induced lesion in cytoskeletal protein.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
authors.forename: Ying-chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ze-fen
authors.initials: ZF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi-peng
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian-zhi
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D016229:Amyloid beta-Peptides; D016564:Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D008550:Melatonin