title: VEGF receptors on PC12 cells mediate transient activation of ERK1/2 and Akt: comparison of nerve growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endostatin are angiogenic and anti-angiogenic molecules, respectively, that have been implicated in neurogenesis and neuronal survival. Using alkaline phosphatase fusion proteins, we show that the PC12 neuronal cell line contains cell membrane receptors for VEGF but not for endostatin and the collagen XV endostatin homologue. Immunocytochemistry confirmed that proliferating and differentiated PC12 cells express VEGF receptors 1, 2 and neuropilin-1. While no functional effects of VEGF on PC12 cell proliferation and differentiation could be observed, a slight VEGF-induced reduction of caspase-3 activity in differentiated apoptotic PC12 cells was paralleled by transient activation of ERK1/2 and Akt. In direct comparison, nerve growth factor proved to be a strikingly more potent neuroprotective agent than VEGF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, University of Würzburg, Germany. ingrid_berger@gmx.de
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rychkova
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Felbor
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D040262:Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3