Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line: neurosteroid-producing cell line relying on cytoskeletal organization

The effect of caspase-9 in the differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells

Neuroblastoma is the most common solid malignant tumor in infants and young children. Its origin is the incompletely committed precursor cells from the autonomic nervous system. Neuroblastoma cells are multipotent cells with a high potency of differentiation into the neural cell types. Neural differentiation leads to the treatment of neuroblastoma by halting the cell and tumor growth and consequently its expansion. Caspases are a family of proteins involved in apoptosis and differentiation. The present study aimed to investigate the potential role of caspase-9 activation on the differentiation of the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Here we investigated the caspase-9 and 3/7 activity during 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (D3)-mediated differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells and took advantage of the inducible caspase-9 system in putting out the differentiation of the neuroblastoma cells. D3-induced differentiation of the cells could lead to activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3/7, astrocyte-like morphology, and increased expression of Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). By using the inducible caspase-9 system, we showed differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells to astrocyte-like morphology and increased level of GFAP expression. Furthered studies using a specific caspase-9 inhibitor showed inhibition of differentiation mediated by D3 or caspase-9 to astrocyte-like cells. These results show the potency of caspase-9 to direct differentiation of the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells into cells showing an astrocyte-like morphology.

Nanospheres based on PLGA/amphiphilic cyclodextrin assemblies as potential enhancers of Methylene Blue neuroprotective effect

Nanospheres of amphiphilic cyclodextrin and PLGA entrapping Methylene Blue are proposed as potential enhancers of drug neuroprotective effect on neuroblastoma cells.

4'-Chlorodiazepam is neuroprotective against amyloid-beta through the modulation of survivin and bax protein expression in vitro

The translocator protein of 18kDa (TSPO) is located in the outer mitochondrial membrane and is involved in the cholesterol transport into the mitochondria and in the regulation of steroidogenesis, mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening and apoptosis. TSPO ligands have been investigated as therapeutic agents that promote neuroprotective effects in experimental models of brain injury and neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of this study was to identify the neuroprotective effects of 4'-chlorodiazepam (4'-CD), a ligand of TSPO, against amyloid-beta (Aβ) in SHSY-5Y neuroblastoma cells and its mechanisms of action. Aβ decreased the viability of SHSY-5Y neuroblastoma cells, while 4'-CD had a neuroprotective effect at the doses of 1nM and 10nM. The neuroprotective effects of 4'-CD against Aβ were associated with the inhibition of Aβ-induced upregulation of Bax and downregulation of survivin. In summary, our findings indicate that 4'-CD is neuroprotective against Aβ-induced neurotoxicity by a mechanism that may involve the regulation of Bax and survivin expression.

Morphological Differentiation Towards Neuronal Phenotype of SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells by Estradiol, Retinoic Acid and Cholesterol

Human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells maintain their potential for differentiation and regression in culture conditions. The induction of differentiation could serve as a strategy to inhibit cell proliferation and tumor growth. Previous studies have shown that differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells can be induced by all-trans-retinoic-acid (RA) and cholesterol (CHOL). However, signaling pathways that lead to terminal differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells are still largely unknown. The goal of this study was to examine in the RA and CHOL treated SH-SY5Y cells the additive impacts of estradiol (E2) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on cell morphology, cell population growth, synaptic vesicle recycling and presence of neurofilaments. The above features indicate a higher level of neuronal differentiation. Our data show that treatment for 10 days in vitro (DIV) with RA alone or when combined with E2 (RE) or CHOL (RC), but not when combined with BDNF (RB), significantly (p < 0.01) inhibited the cell population growth. Synaptic vesicle recycling, induced by high-K(+) depolarization, was significantly increased in all treatments where RA was included (RE, RC, RB, RCB), and when all agents were added together (RCBE). Specifically, our results show for the first time that E2 treatment can alone increase synaptic vesicle recycling in SH-SY5Y cells. This work contributes to the understanding of the ways to improve suppression of neuroblastoma cells' population growth by inducing maturation and differentiation.

Cigarette smoke, nicotine and cotinine protect against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells

Epidemiological studies consistently demonstrate a reduced incidence of Parkinson's disease in smokers. As an approach to evaluate whether nicotine in tobacco may be involved in this apparent protective effect, we compared the effect of mainstream 1R4F cigarette smoke solutions, which contain chemicals inhaled by active smokers, and nicotine against 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced toxicity in an in vitro cell culture system. For this purpose we used terminally differentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells that exhibit a catecholaminergic phenotype and express nicotinic receptors. Cells were pre-incubated for 24 h in mainstream-cigarette smoke solutions (0.06, 0.2, or 0.6 cigarette puffs/ml) made from University of Kentucky 1R4F research brand cigarettes, followed by the addition of 6-OHDA for another 24-48 h. The 0.2, but not 0.06, puffs/ml dose, significantly protected against 6-OHDA-induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells. This dose yielded final nicotine concentrations of approximately 5 x 10(-7) M, which is similar to plasma smoking levels. Although the 0.6 puffs/ml dose caused significant toxicity on its own, it also appeared to protect against 6-OHDA-induced damage. We next tested the effect of nicotine, as well as its metabolite cotinine. These agents protected against the toxic effects of 6-OHDA in SH-SY5Y cells at concentrations ranging from 10(-7) to 10(-5) M. These combined results support the idea that nicotine is one of the components in cigarette smoke that has a protective effect against neurotoxic insults. These data suggest that nicotine may be of potential therapeutic value for Parkinson's disease.

Cholesterol supports the retinoic acid-induced synaptic vesicle formation in differentiating human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells

Synaptic vesicle formation, vesicle activation and exo/endocytosis in the pre-synaptic area are central steps in neuronal communication. The formation and localization of synaptic vesicles in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, differentiated with 12-o-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate, dibutyryl cyclic AMP, all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) and cholesterol, was studied by fluorescence microscopy and immunocytochemical methods. RA alone or together with cholesterol, produced significant neurite extension and formation of cell-to-cell contacts. Synaptic vesicle formation was followed by anti-synaptophysin (SypI) and AM1-43 staining. SypI was only weakly detected, mainly in cell somata, before 7 days in vitro, after which it was found in neurites. Depolarization of the differentiated cells with high potassium solution increased the number of fluorescent puncta, as well as SypI and AM1-43 co-localization. In addition to increase in the number of synaptic vesicles, RA and cholesterol also increased the number and distribution of lysosome-associated membrane protein 2 labeled lysosomes. RA-induced Golgi apparatus fragmentation was partly avoided by co-treatment with cholesterol. The SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line, differentiated by RA and cholesterol and with good viability in culture, is a valuable tool for basic studies of neuronal metabolism, specifically as a model for dopaminergic neurons.

Neuroprotective effects of kobophenol A against the withdrawal of tropic support, nitrosative stress, and mitochondrial damage in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells

This study examined the neuroprotective effects of kobophenol A (kob A), oligomeric stillbene, and a resveratrol tetramer. Neuronal death induced by the withdrawal of tropic support was ameliorated by kob A. The protective effect of kob A against nitrosative/oxidative or mitochondrial damages resulted in the inhibition of the ROS, intracellular calcium ion level, and mitochondrial transmembrane potential changes on SH-SY5Y cells.

Acetaminophen potentiates staurosporine-induced death in a human neuroblastoma cell line

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumour in infants characterized by a high resistance to apoptosis. Recently, the cyclo-oxygenase pathway has been considered a potential target in the treatment of different kinds of tumours. The aim of the present work was to investigate a possible relationship between cyclo-oxygenase pathway and stauroporine-induced apoptosis in the neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Cellular viability was measured by release of LDH. DNA fragmentation was visualized by electrophoresis on agarose gel containing ethidium bromide. Cyclo-oxygenase activity was measured in microsomal fractions obtained from cells by quantification of its final product PGE2 by RIA. Caspase-3 activity was measured fluorimetrically and Western blot analysis was performed to assess cytochrome c expression.

KEY RESULTS

We have found that staurosporine (500 nM) induced cellular death in a time-dependent manner in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Cyclo-oxygenase enzymatic activity was present in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells under basal conditions and pharmacological experiments using COX inhibitors indicate that cyclo-oxygenase-1 and cyclo-oxygenase-3 are the active isoforms in these cells. Co-incubation of SH-SY5Y cells with staurosporine (500 nM) and acetaminophen for 24 h potentiated staurosporine-mediated cellular death in a concentration-dependent manner. This process is mediated by an increase in cytochrome c release and caspase 3 activation and is prevented by N-acetylcysteine or the superoxide dismutase mimetic, MnTBAP.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

Acetaminophen potentiates staurosporine-mediated neuroblastoma cell death. The mechanism of action of acetaminophen seems to be related to production of reactive oxygen species and decreased intracellular glutathione levels.

Luteinizing hormone receptor mediates neuronal pregnenolone production via up-regulation of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein expression

The functional consequences of luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin signaling via neuronal luteinizing hormone/human chorionic gonadotropin receptors expressed throughout the brain remain unclear. A primary function of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the gonads is the stimulation of sex steroid production. As LH can cross the blood-brain barrier, present in cerebrospinal fluid and is expressed by neuronal cells, we tested whether LH might also modulate steroid synthesis in the brain. Treatment of differentiated rat primary hippocampal neurons and human M17 neuroblastoma cells with LH (100 mIU/mL) resulted in a twofold increase in pregnenolone secretion in both cell types, suggesting an increase in P450scc-mediated cleavage of cholesterol to pregnenolone and its secretion from neurons. To explore how LH might regulate the synthesis of pregnenolone, the precursor for steroid synthesis, we treated rat primary hippocampal neurons with LH (0, 10 and 100 mIU/mL) and measured changes in the expression of LH receptor and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). LH induced a rapid (within 30 min) increase in the expression of StAR, but induced a dose-dependent decrease in LH receptor expression. Consistent with these results, the suppression of serum LH in young rats treated with leuprolide acetate for 4 months down-regulated StAR expression, but increased LH receptor expression in the brain. Taken together, these results indicate that LH induces neuronal pregnenolone production by modulating the expression of the LH receptor, increasing mitochondrial cholesterol transport and increasing P450scc-mediated cleavage of cholesterol for pregnenolone synthesis and secretion.

Modulation of neurosteroid production in human neuroblastoma cells by Alzheimer's disease key proteins

Studies performed with animals suggest neurosteroid involvement in neuroprotection. However in humans, the role of neurosteroidogenesis in the regulation of degenerative processes is unknown. To determine whether cellular factors intervening in degenerative mechanisms may interfere with the process of neurosteroidogenesis in humans, we combined pulse-chase experiments with HPLC and continuous flow scintillation detection to compare neurosteroid production in normal and transfected SH-SY5Y cells with key proteins involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Microscope analyses revealed that cell morphology was unchanged in stably transfected SH-SY5Y cells overexpressing human native tau (hTau40), mutant tau (P301L), and wild-type amyloid precursor protein (APPwt) compared to controls. Biochemical investigations showed that hTau40 enhanced progesterone (PROG), 17OHPROG, testosterone, and 3alpha-androstanediol neosynthesis from pregnenolone. In contrast, tau with the pathogenic P301L mutation was devoid of action on neurosteroidogenesis. Overexpression of APPwt inhibited PROG formation, did not affect 17OHPROG and testosterone, but increased 3alpha-androstanediol and estradiol synthesis. Extracellular treatment of control cells with aggregated amyloid peptide mimicked the action of APPwt expression on PROG but not on 3alpha-androstanediol and estradiol production. Moreover, PROG biosynthesis in APPwt cells was up-regulated in the presence of a gamma-secretase inhibitor. Our results provide the first evidence for the regulation of neurosteroid biosynthesis by key proteins involved in the etiology of AD. The data suggest that pathogenic factors may induce neurodegeneration in humans through the reduction of the synthesis of endogenous neuroprotective neurosteroids in nerve cells.

Catabolism of 4-fluoro-3-iodobenzylguanidine and meta-iodobenzylguanidine by SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells

BACKGROUND

A fluorine substituted derivative of meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG), 4-fluoro-3-iodobenzylguanidine (FIBG), is retained in SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells in vitro to a higher degree than the MIBG.

METHOD

To investigate whether the higher retention of FIBG is due to differences in the catabolic degradation of the two tracers, in vitro paired-label studies were performed using SK-N-SH cells.

RESULTS

No detectable amount of benzyl amines, benzoic acids or hippuran derivatives, potential catabolites of these tracers, were seen in either case. Even after 48 h, the cell culture supernatants contained exclusively intact I-MIBG and I-FIBG. In contrast, in some cases, HPLC analysis of cell lysates indicated the presence of a very polar compound(s) as the predominant species with smaller quantities of intact tracers. The per cent total radioactivity in the lysate at each time point that was associated with intact I-FIBG was (average [range]) 25.4% [20.3-30.5], 22.5% [19.3-25.6], and 18.8% [14.3-23.3], at 0 h, 24 h and 48 h, respectively. The corresponding values for I-MIBG were 24.3% [21.0-27.5], 19.1% [11.7-26.5] and 17.4% [14.6-20.1]. No significant amount of activity was associated with high molecular weight species for either halobenzylguanidine, indicating that protein binding was not a major factor.

Steroids modulate N-methyl-D-aspartate-stimulated [3H] dopamine release from rat striatum via sigma receptors

Steroids have been proposed as endogenous ligands at sigma receptors. In the current study, we examined the ability of steroids to regulate N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-stimulated [3H]dopamine release from slices of rat striatal tissue. We found that both progesterone and pregnenolone inhibit [3H]dopamine release in a concentration-dependent manner similarly to prototypical agonists, such as (+)-pentazocine. The inhibition seen by both progesterone and pregnenolone exhibits IC50 values consistent with reported Ki values for these steroids obtained in binding studies, and was fully reversed by both the sigma1 antagonist 1-(cyclopropylmethyl)-4-2'-4"flurophenyl)-2'oxoethyl)piperidine HBr (DuP734) and the sigma2 antagonist 1'-[4-[1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-H-indol-3-yl]-1-butyl]spiro[iso-benzofuran-1(3H), 4'piperidine] (Lu28-179). Lastly, to determine whether a protein kinase C (PKC) signaling system might be involved in the inhibition of NMDA-stimulated [3H]dopamine release, we tested the PKCbeta-selective inhibitor 5,21:12,17-dimetheno-18H-dibenzo[i,o]pyrrolo[3,4 - 1][1,8]diacyclohexadecine-18,20(19H)-dione,8-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-6,7,8,9,10,11-hexahydro-monomethanesulfonate (9Cl) (LY379196) against both progesterone and pregnenolone. We found that LY379196 at 30 nM reversed the inhibition of release by both progesterone and pregnenolone. These findings support steroids as candidates for endogenous ligands at sigma receptors.

Synergistic effect of retinoic acid and dehydroepiandrosterone on differentiation of human neuroblastoma cells

Retinoic acid (RA) affects many cell types by either promoting their survival or inducing their differentiation. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a precursor for both androgenic and estrogenic steroids and abundantly produced by brain, is known as an inhibitor of cell proliferation. Differentiation of a human neuroblastoma cell line (SK-N-BE) was evaluated measuring growth rate, motility, neurite extension and GAP-43 expression. We report that DHEA enhances the differentiating effect of RA on neuroblastoma cells via a signalling that is not RA receptor-mediated. Instead, we show a differential expression of matrix metalloproteinases: RA enhances the activity of MMP-2, whereas MMP-9 expression is up-regulated by DHEA. The concerted modulation of these proteinases may support the neurite outgrowth observed after co-treatment with the two drugs.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone in the aetiology and regression of neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is predominantly a paediatric neoplasm of the sympathetic nervous system. Despite the aggressive nature of the disease, spontaneous regression is frequently observed in infants diagnosed under the age of 12 months; especially with a specific stage referred to as stage 4s. Discovering the conditions, the elements, the mechanism and the indices behind this regression phenomenon could have therapeutic potential for prevention and cure. A review of the literature has implicated adrenocorticotropin hormone in both the aetiology and spontaneous regression of neuroblastoma. Manipulation of adrenocorticotropin hormone may offer hope for prevention and cure. Ingestible products such as retinoic acid, glycyrrhizic acid, salsolinol and ketoconazole acting in concert, could represent instrumental tools in a therapeutic manipulation process.