saxitoxin and Pheochromocytoma

The PC12 rat pheochromocytoma cell line is used extensively as a model to study neuronal differentiation. These cells resemble adrenal chromaffin cells, differentiating both morphologically and biochemically when cultured in the presence of dexamethasone, but develop a sympathetic neuron-like phenotype when cultured in the presence of nerve growth factor. Expression of the protein product of the v-src oncogene in PC12 cells also induces neurite outgrowth similar to that resulting from nerve growth factor treatment (Alema et al: Nature 316:557-559, 1985). It is thus possible that c-src or a src-like tyrosine kinase participates in the signal transduction pathway by which nerve growth factor acts on PC12 cells. In this study a temperature-sensitive v-src gene has been introduced into PC12 cells. When cultures of these src-transformed cells are switched from the nonpermissive (40 degrees C) to the permissive (37 degrees C) temperature they elaborate neurites. The differentiation induced by src has been compared with that induced by nerve growth factor by determining whether src-transformed PC12 cells at 37 degrees C exhibit the same biochemical alterations as those induced in PC12 cells treated with nerve growth factor. Neurite extension at 37 degrees C in v-src-transformed cells, like NGF-induced differentiation, is accompanied by an increase in the nerve growth factor-inducible large external (NILE) protein. However, neurite extension in v-src-transformed cells is not blocked by the protein kinase inhibitor K-252a, which completely blocks NGF-induced neurite extension. Likewise, EGF receptor down-regulation and the development of saxitoxin and tetanus toxin binding sites are either much reduced or completely absent in src-differentiated compared with NGF-differentiated PC12 cells.

Topics: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Amphibian Proteins; Animals; Binding, Competitive; Carbazoles; Carrier Proteins; Cell Differentiation; ErbB Receptors; Indole Alkaloids; Membrane Glycoproteins; Nerve Growth Factors; Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule L1; Neurons; Oncogenes; Phenotype; Pheochromocytoma; Rats; Retroviridae; Saxitoxin; Tetanus Toxin; Tumor Cells, Cultured

The PC12 clone is a line of rat pheochromocytoma cells which undergoes neuronal differentiation in the presence of nerve growth factor (NGF) protein. In the absence of NGF, PC12 cells are electrically inexcitable, while after several weeks of NGF treatment, they develop sodium action potentials. The number and density of sodium channels on PC12 cells before and after treatment with NGF were estimated by measuring the binding of [3H]saxitoxin ([3H]STX). The data indicate that [3H]STX binding increases in the NGF-treated cells by 15- to 20-fold per cell, 3- to 10-fold per mg of protein, and an estimated 7-fold per unit area of membrane. The kinetic properties for [3H]STX binding are unchanged, however, by NGF treatment. A Hodgkin-Huxley analysis (Hodgkin, A. L., and A. F. Huxley (1952) J. Physiol. (Lond.) 117: 500-544) suggests that the estimated density of sodium channels in NGF-untreated PC12 cells is sufficient to explain their lack of excitability. On the other hand, the estimated channel density on the NGF-treated cells (30 to 50/micrometers 2) is comparable to that in other excitable systems. Thus, the development of excitability in PC12 cells in response to NGF could be due to the induction of sodium channel synthesis.

Topics: Adrenal Gland Neoplasms; Amphibian Proteins; Animals; Carrier Proteins; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Kinetics; Neoplasms, Experimental; Nerve Growth Factors; Pheochromocytoma; Rats; Saxitoxin