title: 9-Methyl-beta-carboline up-regulates the appearance of differentiated dopaminergic neurones in primary mesencephalic culture.
abstract: beta-Carbolines (BCs) derive from tryptophan and its derivatives. They are formed endogenously in humans and mammals and occur inter alia in cooked meat and tobacco smoke. They have been detected in human brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and plasma. Up to now they were predominantly identified as compounds exhibiting neurotoxic actions. Since significantly higher amounts are present in parkinsonian patients, they are regarded as potential pathogenetic factors in Parkinson's disease. We identified for the first time a BC (9-methyl-BC; 9-me-BC) exerting neuroprotective and neuron-differentiating effects. Treatment of primary mesencephalic dopaminergic cultures with 9-me-BC inhibited the basal release of lactate dehydrogenase and reduced the number of cells stained with propidium iodide. Caspase-3 activity was decreased, the total protein content was unchanged and ATP content was increased. Furthermore, the expression of inflammation-related genes was reduced. The number of differentiated dopaminergic neurones was significantly increased and a wide array of neurotrophic/transcription factors (Shh, Wnt1, Wnt5a, En1, En2, Nurr1, Pitx3) and marker genes (Th, Dat, Aldh1a1) decisive for dopaminergic differentiation was stimulated. Consistently, the dopamine content was slightly, although non-significantly, increased and the dopamine uptake capacity was elevated. An anti-proliferative effect was observed in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells which is consistent with a reduced incorporation of bromodesoxyuridine into the DNA of primary mesencephalic cells. Whether the additional dopaminergic neurones in primary culture derive from dopaminergic precursor cells, previously tyrosine hydroxylase negative dopaminergic neurones or are the result of a transdifferentiation process remains to be established.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Technical University of Dresden, Fetscherstr. 74, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hamann
authors.forename: Catrin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wernicke
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reichmann
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rommelspacher
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gille
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000963:Antimetabolites; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D002243:Carbolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C529608:9-methyl-beta-carboline; D000963:Antimetabolites; D002243:Carbolines; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D053148:Caspase 3; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D004298:Dopamine