title: PACAP and VIP affect NF1 expression in rat malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) cells.
abstract: In our previous study we have identified PACAP, VIP and their receptors in rat malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST) cells, thus showing anti-apoptotic roles. Recently it has been shown that the tumor suppressor neurofibromin, encoded by the Neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) gene, promotes MPNST cells sensitivity to apoptosis after serum withdrawal. In the present study we investigated whether PACAP or VIP negatively regulate NF1 expression under normal or serum-dependent pro-apoptotic culture conditions. Results indicated that serum itself significantly influenced gene and protein levels. In fact, the low NF1 levels of cells cultured in normal serum-containing medium were remarkably increased in cells switched to low- or no-serum after 24h and 48 h. Treatment with 100 nM PACAP or VIP did not affect NF1 expression when using normal amounts of serum, whereas it significantly inhibited transcript and protein levels both in low- or no-serum cultured cells. In particular, PACAP reduced NF1 levels already after 24h in low-serum cultured cells, while VIP showed a similar effect only after serum deprivation. However, both PACAP and VIP downregulated gene and protein levels within 48 h either in low-dose and serum-starved cells. Results were confirmed by fluorescence microscopy, showing that 100 nM PACAP or VIP attenuated neurofibromin cytoplasmic localization only in low- or no-serum cultured cells. The present study provides a comprehensive analysis of both neuropeptides effect on NF1 expression in normal, low- or serum-starved MPNST cells, ameliorating the hypothesis that resistance to apoptosis in serum-deprived cells might be correlated to PACAP-/VIP-induced NF1 inhibition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Diagnostic Pathology, Legal Medicine, Hygiene and Public Health, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giunta
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castorina
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adorno
authors.forename: Venera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mazzone
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Carnazza
authors.forename: Velia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: D'Agata
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003470:Culture Media; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D016514:Genes, Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D018317:Nerve Sheath Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D025542:Neurofibromin 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D025542:Neurofibromin 1; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide