Effect of retinoic acid on growth and morphological differentiation of mouse NB2a neuroblastoma cells in culture

Lithium induces morphological differentiation of mouse neuroblastoma cells

Neuroblastoma cells are used as a model system to study neuronal differentiation. Here we describe the induction of morphological differentiation of mouse neuroblastoma Neuro 2a (N2a) cells by treatments with either chemical inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases or lithium, which inhibits glycogen synthase kinase-3. Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors cause a rapid cell cycle block as well as the extension of multiple neurites per cell. These multipolar differentiated cells then undergo a massive death. However, lithium promotes a delayed mitotic arrest and the extension of one or two long neurites per cell. This differentiation is maximal after 48 hours of lithium treatment and the differentiated cells remain viable for long periods of time. Neuronal differentiation in lithium-treated cells is preceded by the accumulation of beta-catenin, a protein which is efficiently proteolyzed when it is phosphorylated by glycogen synthase kinase-3. Both neuronal differentiation and beta-catenin accumulation are observed in lithium-treated cells either in the absence or in the presence of supraphysiological concentrations of inositol. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3 by lithium triggers the differentiation of neuroblastoma N2a cells.

Selective stabilization of microtubules within the proximal region of developing axonal neurites

This study examined the distribution of labile and stable microtubules (MTs) during axonal neurite elaboration in NB2a/d1 cells using immunocytochemical markers of unmodified (tyrosinated; Tyr), modified (detyrosinated [Glu] and acetylated [Acet]) and total tubulin. Prominent total and Tyr tubulin immunoreactivity was relatively evenly distributed throughout axonal neurites. By contrast, Acet or Glu immunoreactivity was relatively concentrated within the proximal region of the neurite. Ultrastructural analyses demonstrated an array of longitudinal MTs that apparently span the entire neurite length. The observed differential localization of modified tubulin subunits in axonal neurites of these cells may therefore derive from selective stabilization of proximal regions of full-length axonal MTs. This was substantiated by the observation of Acet immunoreactivity on 30-50% of MTs within the most proximal axonal region, along with a proximal-distal decline to < or =5% of Acet immunoreactive MTs, in immunoelectron microscopy (immuno-EM) analyses. Microinjected biotinylated subunits were initially detected in assembled form within soma and proximal neurites, indicative of ongoing tubulin subunit incorporation into MTs within, and/or MT translocation into, proximal neurites. Because acetylation and detyrosination are functions of MT age, their concentration in this region despite deposition and/or transport of biotinylated tubulin suggests that a subset of axonal MTs undergoes subunit turnover and/or translocation at rates vastly slower than that of the majority of axonal MTs. Selective stabilization of the proximal region of a subset of axonal MTs may serve to construct a relatively stationary scaffold against which other axonal elements could translocate to more distal axonal regions for continued axonal outgrowth.

ATF/CREB elements in the herpes simplex virus type 1 latency-associated transcript promoter interact with members of the ATF/CREB and AP-1 transcription factor families

The herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) latency-associated transcript (LAT) promoter 1 (LP1) is an inducible and cell type-specific promoter involved in regulating the production of an 8.3-kb primary LAT transcript during acute and latent infection of peripheral sensory neurons and during subsequent virus reactivation. A number of cis-acting regulatory elements have been identified in LP1, including two cyclic-AMP (cAMP) response element (CRE)-like sequences, designated CRE-1 and CRE-2. CRE-1 has previously been shown to confer cAMP responsiveness to LP1 and to regulate reactivation of HSV-1 from latency in vivo. A role for CRE-2 in modulating inducible activity is not yet as clear; however, it has been shown to support basal expression in neuronal cells in vitro. Electrophoretic mobility shift (EMS) analyses demonstrate that the LP1 CRE-like elements interact with distinct subsets of neuronal ATF/CREB and Jun/Fos proteins including CREB-1, CREB-2, ATF-1, and JunD. The factor-binding properties of each LP1 CRE element distinguish them from each other and from a highly related canonical CRE binding site and the TPA response element (TRE). LP1 CRE-1 shares binding characteristics of both a canonical CRE and a TRE. LP1 CRE-2 is more unusual in that it shares more features of a canonical CRE site than a TRE with two notable exceptions: it does not bind CREB-1 very well and it binds CREB-2 better than the canonical CRE. Interestingly, a substantial proportion of the C1300 neuroblastoma factors that bind to CRE-1 and CRE-2 have been shown to be immunologically related to JunD, suggesting that the AP-1 family of transcription factors may be important in regulating CRE-dependent LP1 transcriptional activity. In addition, we have demonstrated the two HSV-1 LP1 CRE sites to be unique with respect to their ability to bind neuronal AP1-related factors that are regulated by cAMP. These studies suggest that both factor binding and activation of bound factors may be involved in cAMP regulation of HSV-1 LP1 through the CRE elements, and indicate the necessity of investigating the expression and posttranslational modification of a variety of ATF/CREB and AP-1 factors during latency and reactivation.

Truncated forms of the androgen receptor are associated with polyglutamine expansion in X-linked spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy

X-linked spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is a rare form of motor neuron degeneration linked to a CAG repeat expansion in the first exon of the androgen receptor gene coding for a polyglutamine tract. In order to investigate the properties of the SBMA androgen receptor in neuronal cells, cDNAs coding for a wild-type (19 CAG repeats) and a SBMA mutant androgen receptor (52 CAG repeats) were transfected into mouse neuroblastoma NB2a/d1 cells. The full length androgen receptor proteins, of 110-112 kDa and 114-116 kDa for the wild-type and mutant protein, respectively, were detected by Western blotting in transfected cells. In addition, the presence of an expanded polyglutamine tract in the SBMA androgen receptor appears to enhance the production of C-terminally truncated fragments of the protein. A 74 kDa fragment was particularly prominent in cells expressing the SBMA androgen receptor. From its size, it can be deduced that the 74 kDa fragment lacks the hormone binding domain but retains the DNA binding domain. The 74 kDa fragment may therefore be toxic to motor neurons by initiating the transcription of specific genes in the absence of hormonal control. Immunofluorescence microscopy on transfected NB2a/d1 cells showed that, after hormone activation, the wild-type androgen receptor translocated to the nucleus whereas the SBMA androgen receptor was mainly localized in the cytoplasm in the form of dense aggregates with very little androgen receptor protein in the nucleus. This could explain the reduction in transcriptional activity of the SBMA mutant as compared with wild-type androgen receptor.

Involvement of a ceramide activated protein phosphatase in the differentiation of neuroblastoma Neuro2a cells

The possible involvement of protein phosphatase in ceramide-mediated neural cell differentiation was investigated. Neuroblastoma Neuro2a cell differentiation induced by retinoic acid, or conditions causing an increase in cellular ceramide, was significantly inhibited by the serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid, at concentrations as low as 2.5 nM. A crude cytosolic preparation from Neuro2a cells was found to have a cation-independent protein phosphatase activity that was stimulated by ceramide in a dose-dependent manner. Short- and long-chain ceramides, but not sphingosine and related dihydro-derivatives, were active. Ceramide-activated protein phosphatase activity from Neuro2a cells was inhibited by 5 nM okadaic acid. The data indicate that a type 2A protein phosphatase is involved in ceramide-mediated differentiation of Neuro2a cells.

Inhibition of a mitotic motor compromises the formation of dendrite-like processes from neuroblastoma cells

Microtubules in the axon are uniformly oriented, while microtubules in the dendrite are nonuniformly oriented. We have proposed that these distinct microtubule polarity patterns may arise from a redistribution of molecular motor proteins previously used for mitosis of the developing neuroblast. To address this issue, we performed studies on neuroblastoma cells that undergo mitosis but also generate short processes during interphase. Some of these processes are similar to axons with regard to their morphology and microtubule polarity pattern, while others are similar to dendrites. Treatment with cAMP or retinoic acid inhibits cell division, with the former promoting the development of the axon-like processes and the latter promoting the development of the dendrite-like processes. During mitosis, the kinesin-related motor termed CHO1/MKLP1 is localized within the spindle midzone where it is thought to transport microtubules of opposite orientation relative to one another. During process formation, CHO1/ MKLP1 becomes concentrated within the dendrite-like processes but is excluded from the axon-like processes. The levels of CHO1/MKLP1 increase in the presence of retinoic acid but decrease in the presence of cAMP, consistent with a role for the protein in dendritic differentiation. Moreover, treatment of the cultures with antisense oligonucleotides to CHO1/MKLP1 compromises the formation of the dendrite-like processes. We speculate that a redistribution of CHO1/MKLP1 is required for the formation of dendrite-like processes, presumably by establishing their characteristic nonuniform microtubule polarity pattern.

Sphingoid bioregulators in the differentiation of cells of neural origin

The involvement of ceramide in the differentiation of two neuroblastoma cell lines, Neuro2a and SH-SY5Y, and cerebellar granule cells in primary culture was investigated. The following results were obtained: (a) the cellular content of ceramide markedly increased with induced differentiation of Neuro2a cells (inducers: RA, FCS deprivation), SH-SY5Y cells (inducers: RA, PMA), and spontaneous differentiation of cerebellar granule cells; (b) all the investigated cells in the differentiated form displayed a higher ability to produce ceramide from exogenously administered [3H]Sph-SM and expressed a higher content of neutral sphingomyelinase and, in the case of cerebellar granule cells, also of acidic sphingomyelinase; (c) inhibition of ceramide biosynthesis by Fumonisin B1 blocked the process of differentiation in Neuro2a and cerebellar granule cells; and (d) treatments capable of enhancing ceramide level (administration of sphingosine or C2-Ceramide) induced differentiation in both Neuro2a and SH-SY5Y cells. The data obtained support the notion that ceramide plays a general biomodulatory role in neural cell differentiation.

Induction of tissue transglutaminase in rat superior cervical sympathetic ganglia following in vitro stimulation of retinoic acid

The addition of retinoic acid (RA, 50 nM) to Dulbecco's modifed Eagle's medium containing 1.0 percent bovine serum albumin and 50 mu g/l of gentamicin markedly increased the activity of a Ca(2+) -dependent tissue transglutaminase (TGase) (ca. 3.2-fold), which stabilizes newly formed protein assemblies at the sites of synapses, in isolated rat superior cervical sympathetic ganglia (SCG), which is abundant in synapses, following in vitro aerobic incubation for 3 h at 37 degrees C. An isomer of RA, 13-cis-RA (50 nM), showed the same tendency but rather lesser magnitude (ca. 1.7-fold) in ganglionic TGase activation. Also, retinal (50 nM), a precursor of RA, had a little effect on TGase stimulation (ca. 1.5-fold) in SCG. The RA-induced enhancement of ganglionic TGase activity was completely eliminated in the presence of either actinomycin D (1.0 mu g/ml), a depressant of molecular transcriptional activity, or a potent inhibitor of protein synthesis, cycloheximide (10 mu g/ml). Kinetic analyses show that the stimulation of ganglionic TGase activity evoked by RA addition was associated with only an increase in V max value (ca. 3.3-fold) without change in Km value. Thus, the enzyme protein of TGase might be synthesized de novo in the ganglia in response to RA. The RA-induced activation effect of ganglionic TGase almost disappeared (ca. 1.3-fold) 1 week following denervation, by which time preganglionic cholinergic nerve terminals were degradated. In axotomized SCG, where sympathetic neurons were degenerated and reactive proliferation of glial cells was in progress, the RA-evoked increase in ganglionic TGase activity was attenuated (ca. 1.3-fold). These findings imply that some retinoids, especially RA effectively participate in the cholinergic potentiation of synaptic activity.

Unitary conductance of Na+ channel isoforms in cardiac and NB2a neuroblastoma cells

Unitary conductances of native Na+ channel isoforms (gamma Na) have been determined under a variety of conditions, making comparisons of gamma Na difficult. To allow direct comparison, we measured gamma Na in cell-attached patches on NB2a neuroblastoma cells and rabbit ventricular myocytes under identical conditions [pipette solution (in mM): 280 Na+ and 2 Ca2+, pH 7.4; 10 degrees C]. gamma Na of NB2a channels, 22.9 +/- 0.9 pS, was 21% greater than that of cardiac channels, 18.9 +/- 0.9 pS. In contrast, respective extrapolated reversal potentials, +62.4 +/- 4.6 and +57.9 +/- 5.1 mV, were not significantly different. Several kinetic differences between the channel types were also noted. Negative to -20 mV, mean open time (MOT) of the NB2a isoform was significantly less than that of cardiac channels, and, near threshold, latency to channel opening decayed more rapidly in NB2a. On the basis of analysis of MOT between -60 and 0 mV, the rate constants at 0 mV for the open-to-closed (O-->C) and open-to-inactivated (O-->I) transitions were 0.42 +/- 0.11 and 0.47 +/- 0.11 ms-1 in NB2a and 0.10 +/- 0.06 and 1.19 +/- 0.07 ms-1 in myocytes. The slope factors were -38.9 +/- 8.7 and +10.7 +/- 6.1 mV in NB2a and -27.3 +/- 7.1 and +23.7 +/- 4.9 mV in myocytes. Transition rate constants were significantly different in NB2a and cardiac cells, but voltage dependence was not.

A mediator role of ceramide in the regulation of neuroblastoma Neuro2a cell differentiation

Current studies indicate that ceramide is involved in the regulation of important cell functions, namely cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. In the present study, the possible role of ceramide in the differentiation of neuroblastoma Neuro2a cells was investigated. The following results were obtained. (a) Ceramide content of Neuro2a cells, induced to differentiate by retinoic acid (RA) treatment rapidly increased after addition of RA, was maintained at high levels in RA-differentiated cells and returned to the starting levels with removal of RA and reversal of differentiation; under the same conditions, the sphingosine content remained unchanged. (b) After a short pulse with [3H]sphingomyelin or [3H]sphingosine or L-[3H]serine, the metabolic formation of ceramide was markedly higher and more rapid in RA-differentiated than undifferentiated cells. (c) Inhibitors of ceramide biosynthesis (Fumonisin B1, beta-chloroalanine and L-cycloserine) diminished the extent of the differentiating effect of RA and concomitantly Cer content decreased. (d) The activity of neutral sphingomyelinase increased after addition of RA, maintained high levels in RA-differentiated cells, and returned to the initial levels with removal of RA. (e) Experimental conditions that cause an elevation of ceramide content (treatment with sphingosine or ceramide or C2-ceramide or bacterial sphingomyelinase) inhibited cell proliferation and stimulated neurite outgrowth; dihydro-analogues of sphingosine, ceramide, and C2-ceramide had no effect on differentiation. (f) treatment with Fumonisin B1 completely inhibited sphingosine-induced differentiation. These data suggest a specific bioregulatory function of ceramide in the control of Neuro2a cell growth and differentiation and pose the general hypothesis of a mediator role of ceramide in the differentiation of cells of neural origin.

Respective roles of neurofilaments, microtubules, MAP1B, and tau in neurite outgrowth and stabilization

The respective roles of neurofilaments (NFs), microtubules (MTs), and the microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) MAP 1B and tau on neurite outgrowth and stabilization were probed by the intracellular delivery of specific antisera into transiently permeabilized NB2a/d1 cells during treatment with dbcAMP. Intracellular delivery of antisera specific for the low (NF-L), middle (NF-M), or extensively phosphorylated high (NF-H) molecular weight subunits did not prevent initial neurite elaboration, nor did it induce retraction of existing neurites elaborated by cells that had been previously treated for 1 d with dbcAMP. By contrast, intracellular delivery of antisera directed against tubulin reduced the percentage of cells with neurites at both these time points. Intracellular delivery of anti-NF-L and anti-NF-M antisera did not induce retraction in cells treated with dbcAMP for 3 d. However, intracellular delivery of antisera directed against extensively phosphorylated NF-H, MAP1B, tau, or tubulin induced similar levels of neurite retraction at this time. Intracellular delivery of monoclonal antibodies (RT97 or SMI-31) directed against phosphorylated NF-H induced neurite retraction in cell treated with dbcAMP for 3 d; a monoclonal antibody (SMI-32) directed against nonphosphorylated NF-H did not induce neurite retraction at this time. By contrast, none of the above antisera induced retraction of neurites in cells treated with dbcAMP for 7 d. Neurites develop resistance to retraction by colchicine, first detectable in some neurites after 3 d and in the majority of neurites after 7 d of dbcAMP treatment. We therefore examined whether or not colchicine resistance was compromised by intracellular delivery of the above antisera. Colchicine treatment resulted in rapid neurite retraction after intracellular delivery of antisera directed against extensively phosphorylated NF-H, MAP1B, or tau into cells that had previously been treated with dbcAMP for 7 d. By contrast, colchicine resistance was not compromised by the intracellular delivery of antisera directed against NF-L, NF-M, or tubulin. These findings support previous studies indicating that MT polymerization mediates certain aspects of axonal neurite outgrowth and suggest that NFs do not directly participate in these events. These findings further suggest that NFs function in stabilization of the axonal cytoskeleton, apparently by interactions among NFs and MTs that are mediated by NF-H and MAPs.

Secretion of amyloid precursor protein and laminin by cultured astrocytes is influenced by culture conditions

Although normally quiescent, astrocytes in the adult brain respond to various types of brain injury by rapidly dividing, swelling, extending cellular processes, and expressing increased amounts of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). These phenomena are collectively referred to as "astrogliosis." Similarly, astroglia in primary culture stop dividing when they attain confluency, yet, as seen in situ, they retain their proliferative capacity for extended periods and resume rapid division when subcultured. To examine the impact of glial division on secretion of neurite-promoting factors, conditioned medium (CM) was removed from subconfluent, newly confluent, and long-term confluent ("aged") neonatal rat astrocyte cultures, and from aged confluent cultures that had been repassaged, "lesioned" (scraping with a rubber policeman), or triturated 3 days before harvest. Secretion of neurite-promoting factor(s) by glial cells into these CM was then assayed by treating neuroblastoma cultures with these various CM and quantitating neurite elaboration. Extensive neurite sprouting was elicited by CM from cultures just reaching confluency and from repassaged, lesioned, or triturated cultures. CM from aged confluent cultures did not induce sprouting. These results indicate that secretion of neurite-promoting factor(s) is regulated by glial division, and suggest that gliosis in situ may contribute to neurite sprouting by similar mechanisms. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated the presence in CM of varying amounts of laminin and amyloid precursor protein (APP), including isoforms containing the Kunitz-type protease inhibitor domain. CM from subconfluent cultures contained trace amounts of these proteins, but CM from cultures just reaching confluency contained significant amounts. Although CM from aged cultures contained barely detectable levels of either protein, trituration or repassage of aged cultures dramatically increased secretion of these proteins. APP- and laminin-enriched CM fractions promoted neuritogenesis to a similar level as respective unfractionated CM; anti-APP and anti-laminin antisera blocked this effect. Purified human brain APP promoted neuritogenesis when added to non-conditioned medium and aged CM. Increased secretion of APP and laminin therefore mediates at least a portion of CM-induced neuronal sprouting; these proteins may perform analogous functions during astrogliosis in situ.

Inhibition of neurite outgrowth of neuroblastoma Neuro-2a cells by cholera toxin B-subunit and anti-GM1 antibody

The role of cell surface GM1 ganglioside in neurite outgrowth of Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells was investigated by application of anti-GM1 antibody and the B subunit of cholera toxin (cholera B) to cultured cells stimulated to grow neurites in various ways. When the cells were simultaneously treated with stimulatory agent and cholera B, inhibition, as measured by percent of neurite-bearing cells, was observed with most stimuli: neuraminidase; GD1a ganglioside, retinoic acid, and low serum. However, with dibutyryl cyclic AMP the small reduction observed was not statistically significant. The inhibitory effect of cholera B on neurite outgrowth induced by low serum was dose-dependent, reaching a maximum at 200 ng/mL; 48 h after washout of cholera B the cells were released from inhibition and regrew neurites at nearly the previous rate in the presence of low serum. When the cells were exposed to stimulus for 6 h or more the inhibitory effect of subsequent addition of cholera B was reduced or eliminated; inhibition thus occurs during an early stage of neurite initiation. Anti-GM1 antibody at dilutions of 1:100-1:400 had the same inhibitory effect as cholera B with cells stimulated by GD1a or retinoic acid, whereas anti-GM2 antibody had no effect at 1:200 or 1:400; inhibition by the latter antibody at 1:100 dilution was similar to that attained with control ascites fluid. These results point to a pivotal role for cell surface GM1 in Neuro-2a differentiation induced by many (but not all) neuritogenic agents.

Evidence that the monoclonal antibodies SMI-31 and SMI-34 recognize different phosphorylation-dependent epitopes of the murine high molecular mass neurofilament subunit

The monoclonal antibodies SMI-31 and SMI-34 react with phosphate-dependent epitopes of the high molecular mass (200 kDa) neurofilament protein (Hphos). Determination of whether or not these monoclonals react with different epitopes would assist in interpretation of post mortem immunocytochemical analyses in neurodegenerative disorders and in normal aging. We therefore examined the relative immunoreactivity of these antibodies against Triton-insoluble (cytoskeleton-associated) and Triton-soluble Hphos variants in NB2a/d1 neuroblastoma and post-natal mouse brain in immunoblot analysis. Densitometric analysis yielded a 'reactivity ratio' (soluble Hphos/insoluble Hphos) for each antibody. This ratio was approximately 44% and 87% less for SMI-34 than for SMI-31 in neuroblastoma and brain, respectively. These findings confirm that the SMI-34 epitope is distinct from that recognized by SMI-31, and, in these systems, is preferentially associated with the cytoskeleton.

Combined preoperative and postoperative immunotherapy for murine C1300 neuroblastoma

Preoperative treatment of murine C1300-neuroblastoma (C1300) with triple immunotherapy using low-dose cyclophosphamide (CY), retinyl palmitate (RP), and interleukin-2 (IL2), followed by tumor resection leads to significant initial tumor control and prolonged survival. However, because long-term tumor recurrence is 67%, the efficacy of continued postoperative immunotherapy is now evaluated. Thirty-two A/J mice with 1 cm subcutaneous C1300 tumors were treated for 13 days with CY-100 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (IP), on day 2 of treatment then 25 mg/kg on day 9, RP-2500 IU IP 2 x/week, and IL2 1.6 x 10(5) U IP BID on days 4 to 9 and 11 to 13. On day 14, mice were divided into five treatment groups: (1) OP (operated-tumor resection, n = 6); (2) OP+CY (resection and postoperative CY, n = 7); (3) OP+CY+RP (resection and postoperative CY+RP, n = 7); (4) OP+CY+RP+IL2 (resection and postoperative CY+RP+IL2, n = 7); and (5) CY+RP+IL2 (continued CY+RP+IL2 with no resection, n = 5). Survival and postoperative tumor recurrence were followed for 60 days. The cure rates were group 1 33% (2/6), group 2 43% (3/7), group 3 29% (2/7), group 4 71% (5/7), and group 5 20% (1/5). After surgery, tumors that recurred did so in 8 to 22 days, with no statistical difference noted between groups. MHC class I antigenic expression of tumors resected on day 14 and recurrent tumors was determined with monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry. In tumors resected on day 14, class I expression measured by mean fluorescence, was 374.8 +/- 27.40.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Serum depletion increases the neurofilament protein mRNA levels in a neuroblastoma cell line, GOTO

A human neuroblastoma cell line, GOTO, extends neurite-like processes upon withdrawal of serum from culture medium. This morphological change was accompanied by a 5-fold increase in the neurofilament (NF)-L and a 10-fold increase in the NF-M mRNA levels after 24 h. The addition of a protein kinase inhibitor, H-7 (1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride) also induced the extension of neurite-like processes; however, it did not increase the NF mRNA levels. Thrombin inhibited the extension of neurite-like processes in serum-free culture without affecting the increase in the NF mRNA levels. There was no difference in the number of cells progressing through the S phase between serum-containing and -free cultures at 24 h. This indicates that the increase in the NF mRNA levels upon withdrawal of serum was not preceded by the growth arrest. Treatment with actinomycin D and cycloheximide inhibited the increase in the NF mRNA levels. The half life of the NF gene transcripts was prolonged in the serum-free condition. These results indicate that the serum depletion-induced increase in the NF-L and -M mRNA levels was regulated by both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms, and the increase in the expression of the NF genes was not simply mediated by growth arrest but controlled by unknown regulator proteins.

Neurite outgrowth from N18TG2 neuroblastoma induced by H-7, a protein kinase inhibitor, in the presence of colchicine

Our previous studies have demonstrated that the protein kinase inhibitor H-7 promotes neurite outgrowth from mouse neuroblastoma N18TG2 cells as well as from primary cerebellar cells, and also that the neurites induced by H-7 were more tolerant of colchicine (COL) than those induced by dibutyryl cAMP (dB-cAMP). In the present study, we tested the effects of H-7 and dB-cAMP on neurite growth from N18TG2 cells in the presence of COL. We found that only H-7 promoted neurite formation in the presence of COL. The percentage of cells with neurites induced by H-7 in the presence of COL (H-7 + COL) was similar to that induced by H-7 alone. The neurites induced by H-7 + COL grew straight. They were very thin (less than 1 micron in diameter) and had round varicosities, as did the neurites induced by H-7 alone. By transmission electron microscopy, the neurites induced by H-7 + COL were found to contain longitudinally arranged intermediate filaments (IF). Microtubules (MT) were not observed within the neurites. We also examined the effect of cytochalasin B (CB) on the neurites induced by H-7 + COL and by H-7 alone. The neurites induced by H-7 + COL were tolerant to CB, but those induced by H-7 were resorbed completely within 24 h after CB was applied. Neurites tolerant to CB contained longitudinally IF. Simultaneous application of CB with H-7 + COL or with H-7 alone did not induce neurite formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alteration of neuroblastoma ganglioside metabolism by retinoic acid

Cellular differentiation is often associated with striking changes in ganglioside metabolism. Because retinoic acid causes cellular differentiation in vitro, we have characterized its effect on ganglioside synthesis and shedding by LAN-5 human neuroblastoma cells. Three major observations were made: (a) 20 microM retinoic acid caused a marked (twofold) increase in cellular ganglioside content, with a slight relative enhancement in GD1a and GT1b synthesis, (b) ganglioside shedding increased in parallel with increased cellular ganglioside content, and also, unexpectedly, (c) retinoic acid caused a quantitatively similar increase in content of cell membrane phospholipids, which are also shed. We conclude that enhanced ganglioside synthesis and shedding by retinoic acid are part of a previously undescribed generalized stimulatory effect on membrane lipid metabolism.

Opposing influences of protein kinase activities on neurite outgrowth in human neuroblastoma cells: initiation by kinase A and restriction by kinase C

The respective roles of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A [PKA]) and protein kinase C (PKC) in the early stages of neurite outgrowth were examined in SH-SY-5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Forskolin or dbcAMP, agents that increase intracellular cAMP levels, and intracellular delivery of PKA catalytic subunit induced neurite outgrowth. The PKA inhibitor, N-(2-guanidinoethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (HA 1004), prevented the increases, and decreased further the percentage of cells possessing short, filopodia-like neurites in the absence of inducers. In contrast to effects on PKA activation, PKC activation by 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) reduced the percentage of filopodia-like neurites elaborated by otherwise untreated cells, and prevented neurite outgrowth induced by PKA activators. PKC inhibitors 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H7), staurosporine, and sphingosine induced neurite outgrowth. Neurites induced by PKA activation contained higher levels of tubulin immunoreactivity than those induced by PKC inhibition. Furthermore, PKA-induced neurites rapidly retracted in the presence of colchicine, while those elaborated following PKC inhibition were more resistant. These data suggest that neurites elaborated in response to PKA activation are dependent upon microtubule polymerization, and that neurite induction following PKC inhibition is mediated by a different mechanism. PKA activators and PKC inhibitors exerted additive effects on neurite outgrowth, suggesting that the distinct pathways regulated by these two kinases function cooperatively during neuritogenesis.

Regulation of neuronal migration and neuritogenesis by distinct surface proteases. Relative contribution of plasmin and a thrombin-like protease

The relative contribution of two neuronal surface proteases, plasmin and a protease with thrombin-like specificity, on NB2a/dl neuroblastoma migration and neuritogenesis were examined. Exogenous plasmin induced cell body rounding and increased cell migration, but did not prevent or reverse neurite outgrowth. Inhibition of endogenous plasmin by its specific inhibitor, aprotinin, suppressed migration but did not induce neuritogenesis. Removal or inhibition of the thrombin-like protease by serum deprivation or hirudin addition, respectively, induced neurite outgrowth, as shown in our previous studies, but did not suppress migration. By contrast, trypsin induced simultaneous cell rounding and neurite retraction. These findings indicated that plasmin may regulate cell migration, while the thrombin-like protease may regulate facets of neurite outgrowth. Although unable to induce de novo neuritogenesis, plasmin inhibition potentiated the otherwise transient neurites induced by simultaneous inhibition of the thrombin-like protease. Since cultured neuronal cells migrate primarily in the direction of newly elaborated neurites, this finding is interpreted to indicate that cessation of neuronal migration by plasmin inhibition enhances net neurite outgrowth by inhibition of the putative thrombin-like protease.

Hydra head activator peptide has trophic activity for eukaryotic neurons

The synthetic undecameric peptide, pGlu-Pro-Pro-Gly-Gly-Ser-Lys-Val-Ile-Leu-Phe, known as the hydra head activator peptide, present in high concentrations in mammalian hypothalamus and intestine, was tested for neurotrophic activity in a survival assay using cultured chick embryonic sympathetic and dorsal root ganglion cells, and for morphological differentiation activity on neuroblastoma cells. Hydra head activator peptide supported neuron survival. The optimal active concentration, 1 pM, was very similar to the concentration that causes bud and head formation in hydra. Maximal neuron survival obtained with hydra head activator peptide was close to that obtained with nerve growth factor: both substances enhanced survival up to 3 times that of control cultures. Bradykinin, which has some amino acid sequence homology with hydra head activator, was inactive as a neurotrophic factor. Hydra head activator induced rapid morphological differentiation of the mouse neuroblastoma cell line Neuro-2A. Neuro-2A responded to the peptide by process extension, 4 h after its addition to the culture medium. Neurotrophic factors isolated to date have been characterized by their ability to maintain cell viability and enhance neurite outgrowth. Hydra head activator peptide met these two criteria when tested in 3 different neuron culture systems. Our results suggest that the head activator peptide may act as a neurotrophic factor for neurons in other species, including mammals.

Microtubule-associated protein tau is required for axonal neurite elaboration by neuroblastoma cells

NB2a/d1 neuroblastoma cells constitutively express multiple isoforms of the microtubule-associated protein tau and incorporate this protein into the axonal neurites elaborated during serum deprivation. To examine whether or not tau played an essential role in axonal outgrowth, cells cultured in serum-free medium were treated at 24 h intervals with antisense- and sense-oriented cDNA oligonucleotides (25 or 36 mers that span or are upstream of tau initiation codon) and were simultaneously serum deprived. Oligonucleotide uptake was confirmed by determination of intracellular levels of radiolabeled oligonucleotides. Treatment for 48 h with tau antisense oligonucleotides reversibly inhibited the expression of tau and the number of neurite-bearing cells compared with treatment with sense oligonucleotides. By contrast, tubulin expression was not affected. When cells were treated with antisense oligonucleotide simultaneously with serum deprivation, the initial outgrowth of neurites was unaffected, but continued neurite elongation was prevented. By contrast, neurite outgrowth at 4 h was inhibited when cells were pretreated with tau antisense 24 h before serum deprivation. Furthermore, intracellular delivery of anti-tau antiserum prevented neurite outgrowth and, in cells that had previously been deprived of serum for 24 h, induced retraction of existing neurites. These findings indicate that both the initiation and the continued outgrowth of neurites are dependent on tau and that pre-existing cytoplasmic pools of tau can mediate initial neuritogenesis.

Dibutyryl cyclic AMP stimulates expression of ependymin mRNA and the synthesis and release of the protein into the culture medium by neuroblastoma cells (NB2a/d1)

Northern blot, immunoprecipitation, and gel electrophoretic data demonstrate that the mouse neuroblastoma NB2a/d1 cells express ependymin mRNA and synthesize and release into the culture medium a protein with immunoreactivity and electrophoretic mobility properties identical to ependymin. This is a brain extracellular glycoprotein that has been implicated in the consolidation process of memory formation and neuronal regeneration. In labeling experiments with 35S-methionine, dibutyrylcyclic3',5'-adenosine-monophosphate (dbcAMP) was found to stimulate the expression of ependymin mRNA and the enhanced synthesis and release of ependymin into the culture medium at the same time that dbcAMP stimulation of neurite outgrowth takes place. These results are consistent with the proposed role of the protein in the mechanism of neuronal regeneration and synaptogenesis. The data indicate that the NB2a/d1 cell line is a good model system for studies of the functional properties of ependymin.

Retinoic acid-regulated expression of proteolipid protein and myelin-associated glycoprotein genes in C6 glioma cells

The effect of retinoic acid (RA) on the expression of myelin-specific genes, i.e., proteolipid protein (PLP) and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) in rat glioma C6 cells, was analyzed by Northern blot hybridization. RA-treatment increased the steady-state level of the PLP-specific messages within one day after RA administration and the upregulation reached a maximum on the third day. Concomitantly, the expression of MAG-specific messages in the RA-treated C6 cells dropped below the detectability limit. The expression of the PLP gene was directly related to the RA concentration increasing to approximately 44-fold over the control (untreated cells) level at 10(-6) M RA. The stimulatory effect was vitiated by cycloheximide indicating the involvement of intermediate genes in the PLP gene activation. The total cellular RNA content and the level of cyclophilin mRNA was not changed by the RA-treatment. The present data indicate that RA can be a potent modulator of the myelin-specific gene expression. Furthermore, the reciprocal response of PLP versus MAG genes to RA demonstrates that these two genes utilize different regulatory mechanisms.

Sequential effects of astroglial-derived factors on neurite outgrowth: initiation by protease inhibitors and potentiation by extracellular matrix components

Astroglial-conditioned medium (GCM) induced two distinct, but intimately related, phases of neuritogenesis in NB2a/d1 neuroblastoma cells--a "rapid-outgrowth," unstable phase, and a delayed, relatively stable phase, which are apparently regulated by glial-derived protease inhibitors and laminin, respectively. The initial rapid outgrowth (less than 4 hr) may be mediated by inhibition of a thrombin-like protease, present as a serum component and/or adsorbed to the outer neuronal surface, since (1) a similar effect was obtained by serum removal or by adding the specific thrombin inhibitor, hirudin; (2) exogenous thrombin inhibited the rapid outgrowth of neurites by GCM; and (3) cell-free enzyme assays confirmed the presence of thrombin-inhibitory activity in GCM. Although neurites induced by removal of serum removal or hirudin addition are rapidly resorbed following serum replenishment or hirudin depletion, GCM-induced neurites continued to elongate after GCM removal, indicating that GCM contained additional neurite-promoting factors. Anti-laminin antiserum did not inhibit the initial elaboration of neurites by GCM but prevented their continued elongation. Anti-laminin antiserum had no affect on neurite outgrowth induced by serum deprivation. The more protracted, second phase of neurite outgrowth could also be achieved by the addition of soluble purified laminin to undifferentiated cells. Unlike neurites at 4 hr, neurites at 24 hr were no longer dependent on the protease inhibitors in GCM, since exogenous thrombin no longer caused them to retract. Simultaneous addition of thrombin and anti-laminin antiserum with GCM had identical inhibitory effects on continued neurite elaboration at 24 hr as did anti-laminin antiserum without thrombin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Protection of neuro-2a cells against calcium ionophore cytotoxicity by gangliosides

Gangliosides are known to assert both neuritogenic and neuroprotective effects when applied to a variety of neuroblastoma and primary neuronal cultures. We have developed a model employing Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells with Ca2+ ionophore A23187 as neurotoxic agent causing neurite retraction and eventual cell death. Gangliosides attenuated the toxicity of this substance, increasing both cell survival and neurite stability. In one series of experiments, cells were exposed to A23187 for 24 hr and then incubated in fresh medium (washout) for 18 hr; gangliosides were present at varying times. The paradigm in which cells were only preincubated (2 hr) with ganglioside provided no benefit, nor did incubation of the cells in both ionophore and ganglioside during the 24-hr exposure period. Significant protection was achieved by exposing the cells to ganglioside after washout of A23187, or continuously throughout the whole period. Bovine brain ganglioside mixture and the four major components (GM1, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b) applied individually were all effective. By contrast, GM3 and GM1-alcohol, a neutral derivative of GM1, provided little or no protection. Dichlorobenzamil, an inhibitor of the Na(+)-Ca2+ exchanger, tended to block the neurite stabilizing effect of gangliosides, suggesting that the mechanism might involve potentiation of this antiporter.

Expression of plasmolipin in the developing rat brain

Plasmolipin is an hydrophobic plasma membrane proteolipid present in both kidney and brain. The protein consists of two subunits of 17-18.5 kD, which together form K+ selective voltage-dependent channels. In this report, we define the embryonic and postnatal expression of plasmolipin in the developing rat brain. Plasmolipin was found to be essentially restricted to the postnatal period increasing eight-fold between the first to fourth week after birth. A fetal plasmolipin immunoreactive protein (FPIP) was identified in embryonic brain and also during the early postnatal development of the cerebellum. The expression of FPIP was biphasic with an initial transient increase between E15-E20 followed by a decrease in its levels. FPIP was not detected in the developed rat CNS. FPIP was found in a variety of dividing and immature cells including cultured astrocytes and embryonic neurons, neuroblastoma cells, and rat thymus. In contrast, plasmolipin was restricted to oligodendrocytes of the neural cells tested and to renal tubular epithelial cells.

Correlation of gangliotetraose gangliosides with neurite forming potential of neuroblastoma cells

Gangliosides of 11 different neuroblastoma cell lines, grown to confluence, were extracted and quantified with respect to: (a) total lipid-bound sialic acid, (b) total gangliotetraose family, and (c) GM1 content. The cultured cells were induced to grow neurites in 3 ways: (a) serum reduction, (b) exogenous ganglioside, and (c) retinoic acid. Neurite outgrowth was quantified in terms of % of cells bearing neurites and average number of neurites per cell. No correlation was observed between neurite outgrowth and total ganglioside concentration, but a reasonably good correlation was observed with respect to neuritogenesis and gangliotetraose content. When exogenous ganglioside was the stimulant the best correlation was with GM1, whereas retinoic acid-stimulated outgrowth was approximately proportional to GD1a content. The 'neurite minus' N1A-103 line, which had the lowest level of GM1, GD1a, and total gangliotetraose gangliosides, showed little if any response to any of the stimuli.

Molecular cloning and characterization of the promoter region of the mouse regulatory subunit RII beta of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase

The promoter and exon 1 of the regulatory subunit (RII beta) of type II cAMP-dependent protein kinase were isolated from a mouse genomic library. The 5'-flanking DNA lacked TATA and CAAT sites but contained GC rich regions typically found in constitutively expressed house keeping genes. Fusion gene constructs, containing RII beta 5'-flanking sequences and the bacterial CAT structural gene, were transfected into NB2a neuroblastoma cells and CHO cells. The NB2a cells expressed high levels of CAT activity. CHO cells expressed CAT activity at 5% of the level seen in the NB2a cells. Transfection of deletion constructs into both cell lines was used to define the core promoter and enhancer elements. The core promoter was situated between bp -291/-121. An enhancer element was located between bp -1426/-1018.

Retinoic acid stimulates the differentiation of PC12 cells that are deficient in cAMP-dependent protein kinase

Retinoic acid (RA) induced neuronal differentiation in A126-1B2 cells and 123.7 cells, two mutant lines of PC12 that are deficient in cAMP-dependent protein kinase, but not in the parental PC12 cell line. A single exposure to RA was sufficient to cause neurite formation and inhibit cell division for a period of greater than 3 wk, suggesting that RA may cause a long-term, stable change in the state of these cells. In A126-1B2 cells, RA also induced the expression of other markers of differentiation including acetylcholinesterase and the mRNAs for neurofilament (NF-M) and GAP-43 as effectively as nerve growth factor (NGF). Neither NGF nor RA stimulated an increase in the expression of smg-25A in A126-1B2 cells, suggesting that the cAMP-dependent protein kinases may be required for an increase in the expression of this marker. RA also caused a rapid increase in the expression of the early response gene, c-fos, but did not effect the expression of egr-1. RA equivalently inhibited the division of A126-1B2 cells, 123.7 cells and parental PC12 cells, so RA induced differentiation is not an indirect response to growth arrest. In contrast, the levels of retinoic acid receptors (RAR alpha and RAR beta), and retinoic acid binding protein (CRABP) mRNA were strikingly higher in both A126-1B2 cells and 123.7 cells than in the parental PC12 cells. The deficiencies in cAMP-dependent protein kinase may increase the expression of CRABP and the RARs; and, thus, cAMP may indirectly regulate the ability of RA to control neurite formation and neural differentiation. Thus, RA appears to regulate division and differentiation of PC12 cells by a biochemical mechanism that is quite distinct from those used by peptide growth factors.

Induction of K-channel expression in a neuroblastoma cell line

Whole-cell currents were examined in mouse neuroblastoma cells of the N2AB-1 line. In standard culture medium, N2AB-1 cells exhibited large voltage-dependent Na currents but no discernible K currents. Treatment of N2AB-1 cells with either dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) in low-serum medium or with retinoic acid (RA) caused the expression of delayed rectifier K currents. Currents from two types of K channel with single channel slope conductances of 15.0 pS and 6.4 pS were observed in outside-out patches from cells of both treatment groups. Thus, while N2AB-1 cells did not exhibit K currents under standard culture conditions, they did possess the gene(s) encoding K channels. The treatments caused other changes that were not directly linked to K-channel expression. RA treatment caused neurite extension in most, but not all, N2AB-1 cells; however, all RA-treated cells, including those without neurites, expressed K currents. RA treatment did not suppress cell division or cause hypertrophy. In contrast, treatment with DMSO/low serum suppressed cell division and caused cellular hypertrophy, but did not cause long neurites to form. Thus, the regulation of K channels was not coupled in a simple fashion to properties that have been associated with a differentiated neuronal phenotype: neurite elaboration, changes in cell size, and inhibition of cell division. These results suggest that N2AB-1 cells may be a good model system for investigating the processes regulating K-channel expression.

Enhanced resection and improved survival in murine neuroblastoma (C1300-NB) after preoperative immunotherapy

Advanced neuroblastoma treated with standard chemotherapy has a poor prognosis. Combination immunotherapy for murine neuroblastoma with retinyl palmitate, low-dose cyclophosphamide, and interleukin-2 resulted in increased survival, impaired tumor growth, easier surgical resection, and increased class I expression or tumor cells. Preoperative immunotherapy may be useful in treatment of advanced human neuroblastoma.

Morphology of neurites from N18TG2 cell induced by protein kinase inhibitor H-7 and by cAMP

Protein kinase inhibitor H-7 and dibutyryl (dB)-cAMP were found to induce neuritic processes in mouse neuroblastoma N18TG2 cells (36). In the present study, morphological differences between the neurites induced by H-7 and those by dB-cAMP were examined using electron microscopy (TEM and SEM) and tubulin immunohistochemistry. It was observed that: 1) The neurites induced by H-7 were relatively thin and frequently had varicosities. On the other hand, the neurites induced by dB-cAMP were thick but they had few varicosities. 2) Centrioles were frequently observed in the cells treated with dB-cAMP but were not encountered in the H-7-treated cells. 3) TEM and tubulin immunohistochemistry revealed that the main shafts of the neurites induced either by H-7 or dB-cAMP were filled with microtubules, but that the varicosities induced by H-7 contained a smaller amount of microtubules. 4) The stability to colchicine was greater in the neurites induced by H-7 than in those by dB-cAMP. From these features of the neurites, it was inferred that neurite outgrowth induced by dB-cAMP is deeply related to the formation of microtubules and that the neurites induced by H-7 were involved in other processes probably including an adhesive property of cell surfaces.

Multiple proteases regulate neurite outgrowth in NB2a/dl neuroblastoma cells

Mouse NB2a/dl neuroblastoma cells elaborate axonal neurites in response to various chemical treatments including dibutyryl cyclic AMP and serum deprivation. Hirudin, a specific inhibitor of thrombin, initiated neurite outgrowth in NB2a/dl cells cultured in the presence of serum; however, these neurites typically retracted within 24 h. The cysteine protease inhibitors leupeptin and N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal (CI; preferential inhibitor of micromolar calpain but also inhibits millimolar calpain) at 10(-6) M considerably enhanced neurite outgrowth induced by serum deprivation, but could not induce neuritogenesis in the presence of serum. A third cysteine protease inhibitor, N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-methional (CII; preferential inhibitor of millimolar calpain but also inhibits micromolar calpain), had no detectable effects by itself. Cells treated simultaneously with hirudin and either leupeptin, CI, or CII elaborated stable neurites in the presence of serum. Cell-free enzyme assays demonstrated that hirudin inhibited thrombin but not calpain, CI and CII inhibited calpain but not thrombin, and leupeptin inhibited both proteases. These results imply that distinct proteolytic events, possibly involving more than one protease, regulate the initiation and subsequent elongation and stabilization of axonal neurites. Since the addition of exogenous thrombin or calpain to serum-free medium did not modify neurite outgrowth, the proteolytic events affected by these inhibitors may be intracellular or involve proteases distinct from thrombin or calpain.

A lead-associated nuclear protein which increases in maturing brain and in differentiating neuroblastoma 2A cells exposed to cyclic AMP-elevating agents

The lead-associated nuclear protein, p32/6.3, increases significantly in the postnatally developing rat cerebral cortex (Egle and Shelton, J. Biol. Chem., 261 (1986) 2294-2298). In the present study, this increase has been identified with late development of the cerebral cortex or forebrain because p32/6.3 reached adult levels 10 to 14 days after birth in guinea pig (a precocial animal) and after hatching in chicken. Comparison with other developmental processes indicates that p32/6.3 reaches adult levels just before or during the period of synapse maturation. Thus p32/6.3 may prove useful as a biochemical indicator of nuclear maturation in this period. The developmental regulation of p32/6.3 was further studied in mouse neuroblastoma 2a (Nb2a) cells. In vitro induction of differentiation of Nb2a cells by serum withdrawal from the culture medium increased p32/6.3, implicating p32/6.3 with differentiating neurons. This association was further strengthened when treatment of the Nb2a cells for 24 h with dibutyryl cAMP (1-5 mM), papaverine (5-12.5 micrograms/ml) or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX; 50-250 microM) increased the abundance of p32/6.3 1.5- to 3-fold more than serum withdrawal alone. 8-Bromo-cAMP (2-4 mM), N6-benzoyl cAMP (4 mM) and forskolin (10 microM) also increased the abundance of p32/6.3 in Nb2a cells, arguing that cAMP is involved in p32/6.3 regulation. These results, in conjunction with the postnatal increase of p32/6.3 in cerebral cortex, suggest a relationship between p32/6.3 levels and neuronal maturation.

Dynamics of phosphorylation and assembly of the high molecular weight neurofilament subunit in NB2a/d1 neuroblastoma

In neuronal systems thus far studied, newly synthesized neurofilament subunits rapidly associate with the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton and subsequently undergo extensive phosphorylation. However, in the present study we demonstrate by biochemical and immunological criteria that NB2a/d1 neuroblastoma cells also contain Triton-soluble, extensively phosphorylated 200-kDa high molecular weight neurofilament subunits (NF-H). High-speed centrifugation (100,000 g) of the Triton-soluble fraction for 1 h sedimented some, but not all, soluble NF-H subunits; immunoelectron microscopic analyses of the resulting pellet indicated that a portion of the NF-H subunits in this fraction are assembled into (Triton-soluble) neurofilaments. When cells were pulse labeled for 15 min with [35S]methionine, radiolabel was first associated with the Triton-soluble 200-kDa NF-H variants. Because only extensively phosphorylated NF-H subunits migrate at 200 kDa, whereas hypophosphorylated subunits migrate instead at 160 kDa, these findings suggest that some newly synthesized subunits were phosphorylated before they polymerized. In pulse-chase analyses, radiolabeled 200-kDa NF-H migrated into the 100,000 g particulate fraction of Triton-soluble extracts before its arrival in the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton. Undifferentiated cells, which do not possess axonal neurites and lack a significant amount of Triton-insoluble, extensively phosphorylated NF-H, contain a sizeable pool of Triton-soluble extensively phosphorylated NF-H subunits and polymers. We interpret these data to indicate that the integration of newly synthesized NF-H into the cytoskeleton occurs in a progression of distinct stages, and that assembly of NF-H into neurofilaments and integration into the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton are not prerequisites for the incorporation of certain phosphate groups on these polypeptides.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Transient increase in vimentin in axonal cytoskeletons during differentiation in NB2a/d1 cells

The localization of vimentin (Vm) within the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton was characterized during differentiation of mouse NB2a/dl neuroblastoma cells. Vm staining increased within neurites during the first day of differentiation, and then rapidly declined in both perikarya and neurites. By contrast, immunoreactivity against extensively phosphorylated forms of the high molecular weight neurofilament subunit (NF-H) was absent until the third day after differentiation. Immunoblot analyses confirmed that these alterations reflected specific changes in Vm and NF-H steady-state levels. Metabolic labeling demonstrated a decrease in the rate of Vm synthesis by the third day of differentiation. We conclude that changes in incorporation of intermediate filament species into the axonal cytoskeleton reflect distinct stages in neurite outgrowth and maturation; i.e., the Vm filament system may participate in initial stages of neuritogenesis during which outgrowth is most rapid, while NFPs may subsequently function in the establishment of a stabilized axonal cytoskeleton.

Effect of differentiation and cell density on glycosphingolipid class and molecular species composition of mouse neuroblastoma NB2a cells

The effects of cell density and retinoic acid-induced differentiation on the class and molecular species composition of mouse neuroblastoma NB2a cell glycosphingolipids were examined under conditions where the period of culture was controlled. The total amount of neutral glycosphingolipids per cell decreased both with differentiation and as the cells became confluent. The relative amount of the neutral glycosphingolipid classes was not affected by differentiation, whereas there were small but significant changes in the relative amount of the neutral glycosphingolipid classes as the cells became confluent. The total amount of the gangliosides was unaffected by either differentiation or cell density, but there were significant changes in the ganglioside class composition as a result of both cell density and differentiation, and the effects were additive. The molecular species of all the major neutral glycosphingolipid and ganglioside classes were essentially identical, and were altered only slightly by either differentiation or cell density.

Alterations of cellular characteristics of a human ovarian teratocarcinoma cell line after in vitro treatment with retinoids

Differentiation of the human teratocarcinoma derived cell line. PA-1, with retinoids was examined at concentrations (10(-6)-10(-8) M) that did not exhibit an antiproliferative effect during log-phase growth. Treatment with naturally occurring retinoic acid or certain synthetic retinoids (13-cis retinoic acid, Ro10-9359, and Ro13-7410), while not significantly altering the log-phase growth rate, decreased the saturation cell density and mitotic indices after confluence. Retinoid treatment also induced changes in cell morphology, which appear to be related to reorganization of microtubules and microfilaments. Following retinoid treatment, the expression of cell glycoproteins (of 162 kDa, 152 kDa, 143 kDa. and 51 kDa) was altered. Treated cells also exhibited decreased expression of alkaline phosphatase, as well as an increased capacity for intercellular communication as evidenced by gap-junctional transfer of the phosphorylated toxic intermediate of 6-thioguanine to HPRT- cells. Treatment with retinoic acid dramatically reduced the quantity of shed plasma membrane material and altered its composition.

Post-translational modification of alpha-tubulin by acetylation and detyrosination in NB2a/d1 neuroblastoma cells

Western blot analyses of total assembled microtubule fractions from NB2a/d1 neuroblastoma cells demonstrated that these cells are capable of post-translationally modifying alpha-tubulin by acetylation and detyrosination. Immunocytochemical analyses of NB2a/d1 cells differentiated with dbcAMP which had been processed under microtubule-stabilizing conditions demonstrated that all forms of alpha-tubulin were present throughout perikarya and neurites. By contrast, extraction of cells with Triton X-100 revealed a regional concentration of acetylated and detyrosinated alpha-tubulin subunits within axonal neurites, detectable in some cells after 3 days of differentiation and in nearly all cells after 7 days. Resistance of neurites to retraction following colchicine-treatment developed at a similar rate; furthermore, colchicine-resistant neurites contained intense acetylated alpha-tubulin immunoreactivity. We conclude that NB2a/d1 cells are capable of acetylating and detyrosinating alpha-tubulin subunits and that selective post-translational modification of alpha-tubulin subunits may be related to neuritic maturation.

Cholinergic differentiation of clonal rat pheochromocytoma cells (PC12) induced by retinoic acid: increase of choline acetyltransferase activity and decrease of tyrosine hydroxylase activity

The effects of retinoic acid (RA), a naturally occurring metabolite of vitamin A, on the growth, morphology and neurochemical differentiation of the PC12 clone of rat pheochromocytoma cells were investigated. RA added to the medium inhibited the growth of PC12 cells in a dose-dependent manner up to 10 microM without affecting their morphology. In PC12 cells cultured in the presence of 10 microM RA for 8 days, the specific activity of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) was increased 2-fold, while the specific activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was decreased 0.5-fold compared with cells cultured in the absence of RA. Specific activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were not affected by RA. Both the increase of ChAT and the decrease of TH induced by RA exhibited similar time and dose dependencies. RA inhibited the increase of TH activity induced by nerve growth factor (NGF), an adrenergic neuronotrophic factor on PC12 cells. From these observations it was concluded that RA induces a cholinergic neurochemical differentiation of PC12 cells independent of a morphological differentiation.

Appearance and localization of phosphorylated variants of the high molecular weight neurofilament protein in NB2a/d1 cytoskeletons during differentiation

We used immunoblot and immunocytochemical methodologies to characterize the appearance and intracellular localization of the high molecular weight neurofilament subunit (NF-H) within the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton during the first 5 days of differentiation of mouse NB2a/d1 neuroblastoma cells. Hypophosphorylated and partially phosphorylated forms of NF-H were detected in cells before and throughout differentiation. By contrast, some extensively phosphorylated forms of NF-H were first detected on the third day of differentiation and at least one additional 200 kDa isoform was visualized in cytoskeletons only after five days of differentiation. Extensively phosphorylated forms of NF-H were restricted to axonal neurites; by contrast, hypophosphorylated and partially phosphorylated forms of NF-H were present throughout undifferentiated and differentiated cells.

Aluminum salts induce the accumulation of neurofilaments in perikarya of NB2a/dl neuroblastoma

NB2a/dl neuroblastoma cells were exposed to aluminum chloride or aluminum lactate (0.1-1 mM) for 3 and 6 days. Additional cultures were exposed to aluminum salts as the cells were stimulated to elaborate axonal neurites by dibutyryl cyclic AMP. By phase-contrast microscopy, aluminum salts had no effect on the morphology of undifferentiated (NB2a(-] or differentiated (NB2a(+] cells, or on neuritic elaboration and maintenance. Silver straining by the Bielschowsky method, however, demonstrated argyrophilic accumulations in perikarya of many NB2a(-) and NB2a(+) cells treated with aluminum salts. At the ultrastructural level, whorls of intermediate filaments were the most prominent abnormalities in neuronal perikarya. Although phosphorylated high-molecular weight neurofilament subunits (NF-H) are normally detected by immunocytochemical analyses only within axonal neurites of NB2a/dl cells, aluminum salt treatment caused the detection of phosphorylated epitopes of NF-H within perikaryal of NB2a(-) and NB2a(+) cytoskeletons, suggesting that the argyrophilic filamentous accumulations are composed at least partly of phosphorylated NF-H.

Stimulation of choline acetyltransferase activity by retinoic acid and sodium butyrate in a cultured human neuroblastoma

Choline acetyltransferase (Acetyl-CoA:choline O-acetyltransferase, EC 2.3.1.6, abbreviated ChAT), the biosynthetic enzyme for acetylcholine and acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7, abbreviated AChE) are expressed in a human cholinergic neuroblastoma cell line, MC-IXC. We have shown that ChAT activity can be regulated in culture by retinoic acid, an active metabolite of vitamin A, and by sodium butyrate, an organic fatty acid. Optimal concentrations of these agents produce 4.3-fold and 1.6-fold increases in ChAT activity, respectively. The effects of retinoic acid are statistically significant after 24 h, whereas for sodium butyrate significant differences are seen only after 48 h. Since retinoic acid stimulation of ChAT activity was reversed only by trypsin treatment and not by removal of retinoic acid from the medium, this suggests that this agent may be acting at the level of the cell surface. Other differentiating conditions, such as culture in serum-free medium or addition of 1-2% dimethylsulfoxide did not increase ChAT activity. Acetylcholinesterase activity was shown to increase only in the presence of sodium butyrate, suggesting that retinoic acid and sodium butyrate may be acting via different pathways. Retinoic acid and sodium butyrate both seem to be permissive rather than instructive in regulating ChAT activity in that they are unable to induce ChAT expression de novo in cell lines which do not already express ChAT activity.

Changes in lipid composition of neuroblastoma C1300 N18 cell during differentiation

Phospholipids and cholesterol were found to be the main lipids in mature and immature neuroblastoma cells. The ratios for the total cholesterol/phospholipids in these undifferentiated and differentiated cells were 0.33 and 0.52, respectively. The ratios of 0.45 and 0.62 were obtained with corresponding plasma membrane fractions. Individual fatty acid contents in the loosely bound lipid fraction were higher than in tightly bound lipids. The total levels of saturated fatty acids increased in both of these fractions. While arachidonic acid content significantly decreased, it increased simultaneously (600%) in the free fatty acid fraction during differentiation. The amount of cholesterol esters increased three-fold as a result of maturation. For the first time it was possible to detect, in neuroblastoma cells, several lipids, namely N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine, N-acylethanolamine and semilysobisphosphatidic acid. They all changed during maturation. Total N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine content decreased by 50%, disappearing completely from membrane fractions. N-Acylethanolamine disappeared from the cell as well as from membrane fractions. On the other hand the total cellular content of semilysobisphosphatidic acid increased without any alterations in its membrane content. Functional implications of our investigations are discussed.

Soluble, phosphorylated forms of the high molecular weight neurofilament protein in perikarya of cultured neuronal cells

The high molecular weight subunit of neurofilaments (NF-H) in mouse NB2a/d1 neuroblastoma cells is extensively phosphorylated and exhibits an apparent molecular weight of 200 kDa by SDS gel electrophoresis. In this study, we observed that extensively phosphorylated NF-H variants exist as both Triton-soluble and -insoluble forms, which display different cellular distributions. Perikarya and neurites of differentiated NB2a/d1 cells were immunostained by a polyclonal antiserum (anti-NF-H) that specifically recognizes the extensively phosphorylated NF-H forms and a monoclonal antibody (SMI-31) that recognizes phosphorylated epitopes of neurofilament proteins (NFPs). When cells were extracted with Triton X-100 to remove soluble proteins, however, only axonal neurites remained immunoreactive. Immunoblot analyses established the specificity of anti-NF-H and SMI-31 and demonstrated that both Triton-soluble and -insoluble NF-H subunits exhibit an apparent molecular weight of 200 kDa. Incorporation of radiolabeled phosphate into Triton-soluble NF-H following incubation of intact NB2a/d1 cells with 32P-orthophosphate confirmed that the Triton-soluble form of NF-H is a phosphoprotein. Most NF-H subunits in the Triton-soluble fraction sedimented after centrifugation at 100,000 g for 1 h, indicating that they may be present as oligomers. The implications of these data for the development of neurofibrillary pathology are discussed.

Rat mesencephalic neurons in culture exhibit different morphological traits in the presence of media conditioned on mesencephalic or striatal astroglia

Embryonic rat mesencephalic neurons were plated at low density in a chemically defined medium (CDM) or in CDM conditioned on either mesencephalic or striatal astrocytes (CM Gmes and CM Gstr). It was found that "axon-like" neurites, in general long with few branching points, could be initiated in CM Gmes and CM Gstr, whereas "dendrite-like" neurites (shorter and with a high branching capacity) were preferentially initiated in CM Gmes. The effects of CM Gmes and CM Gstr on the morphology of mesencephalic neurons were abolished by protein denaturating treatments. Comparisons with basic FGF, laminin, or fibronectin demonstrated that these three molecules were also able to modify the morphological traits of the neurons. However the different morphologies observed in CM Gmes and CM Gstr could not be explained only by the presence of these proteins in the conditioned media. Our results therefore indicate that different factors may regulate the initiation of different categories of neurites and that in contrast to several molecules able to promote neurite elongation these "initiation" factors may show important regional specificity.

Neurofilament triplet proteins of NB2a/d1 neuroblastoma: posttranslational modification and incorporation into the cytoskeleton during differentiation

Induction of axonal neuritogenesis in NB2a/d1 cells was associated with an increased content of neurofilament proteins (NFPs) by immunoblot analysis. The major NFP subunits in differentiated [NB2a(+)] cells included microheterogenous forms with apparent molecular weights of 200-190 kDa (NFP-H), 143-142 kDa (NFP-M) and 70 kDa (NFP-L) on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Only NFP-L was detected in cytoskeletal preparations of undifferentiated [NB2a(-)] cells. All three NFPs of NB2a(+) cells incorporated 32P-orthophosphate in intact cells. A 160/155 kDa NFP-H immunoreactive polypeptide in NB2a(-) and NB2a(+) cells represented a relatively unmodified form of the 200 kDa NFP-H, since dephosphorylation of the 200 kDa NFP-H in vitro with alkaline phosphatase generated the 160/155 kDa forms. Triton-extracted NB2a(+) cells displayed NFP-H immunoreactivity in neurites and occasionally in perikaryal regions at the base of neurites. NFP-M was present throughout the neurites and somata of NB2a(+) cells, and was regularly detected in portions of perikarya in NB2a(-) cells. NFP-L immunoreactivity was distributed throughout the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton of NB2a(-) and NB2a(+) cells. Immunocytochemical analyses revealed that extensively phosphorylated forms of NFP-H were largely restricted to the neurites of NB2a(+) cells, and less modified forms predominated throughout both perikarya and neurites of NB2a(-) and NB2a(+) cells.

Differential distribution of vimentin and neurofilament protein immunoreactivity in NB2a/d1 neuroblastoma cells following neurite retraction distinguishes two separate intermediate filament systems

Mouse NB2a/d1 cells assemble all 3 neurofilament protein subunits (NFPs) into the detergent-insoluble cytoskeleton and segregate phosphorylated forms of the 200-kDa subunit (NFP-H) within neurites when differentiation is induced with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (dbcAMP). Before and after differentiation, these cells also incorporate vimentin into both the perikaryal and neuritic cytoskeleton (Shea et al., 1988, Dev. Brain Res., submitted). To determine whether NFPs and vimentin constitute separate intermediate filament systems or exist as heteropolymers, we perturbed cytoskeletal architecture by inducing the retraction of neurites with colchicine. After cells were exposed to colchicine, vimentin immunoreactivity partitioned into perikarya in the form of fibrous whorls that did not cross-react with antisera to NFPs. By contrast, NFP immunoreactivity remained dispersed throughout the cell body following neurite retraction. We interpret these different responses to colchicine to indicate that NFPs and vimentin are assembled into separate intermediate filaments in NB2a/d1 cells.