title: Induction of dopamine biosynthesis by l-DOPA in PC12 cells: implications of L-DOPA influx and cyclic AMP.
abstract: The effects of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) on dopamine biosynthesis and cytotoxicity were investigated in PC12 cells. l-DOPA treatment (20-200 microM) increased the levels of dopamine by 226%-504% after 3-6 h of treatment and enhanced the activities of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC). l-DOPA (20-200 muM) treatment led to a 562%-937% increase in l-DOPA influx at 1 h, which inhibited the activity of TH, but not AADC, during the same period. The extracellular releases of dopamine were also increased by 231%-570% after treatment with 20 and 200 microM l-DOPA for 0.5-3 h. l-DOPA at a concentration of 100-200 microM, but not 20 microM, exerted apoptotic cytotoxicity towards PC12 cells for 24-48 h. l-DOPA (20-200 microM) increased the intracellular cyclic AMP levels by 318%-557% after 0.5-1 h in a concentration-dependent manner. However, the elevated cyclic AMP levels by l-DOPA could not protect against l-DOPA (100-200 microM)-induced cytotoxicity after 24-48 h. In addition, l-DOPA (20-200 microM)-induced increases in cyclic AMP and dopamine were significantly reduced by treatment with SCH23390 (dopamine D(1) receptor antagonist). The increased levels of dopamine by l-DOPA were also reduced by H89 (protein kinase A, PKA, inhibitor) and GF109203X (protein kinase C inhibitor); however, the reduction by GF109203X was not significant. l-DOPA at 20-200 microM stimulated the phosphorylation of PKA and cyclic AMP-response element binding protein and induced the biosynthesis of the TH protein. These results indicate that 20-200 microM l-DOPA induces dopamine biosynthesis by two pathways. One pathway involves l-DOPA directly entering the cells to convert dopamine through AADC activity (l-DOPA decarboxylation). The other pathway involves l-DOPA and/or released dopamine activating TH to enhance dopamine biosynthesis by the dopamine D(1) receptor-cyclic AMP-PKA signaling system (dopamine biosynthesis by TH).
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy and Research Center for Bioresource and Health, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chun Mei
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Yoo Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hai Shan
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Sung Cil
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kai
authors.forename: Myung Koo
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001142:Aromatic-L-Amino-Acid Decarboxylases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003653:Decarboxylation / Q000187:drug effects; D004298:Dopamine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007980:Levodopa / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016716:PC12 Cells; D051381:Rats; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; D007980:Levodopa; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D001142:Aromatic-L-Amino-Acid Decarboxylases; D004298:Dopamine