Abstract
We examined whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC) enhanced embryonic body (EB) formation and neuronal differentiation in terms of EB formation, neuronal marker (microtubule-associated protein 2; MAP-2) expression, and neuron maturation using P19 embryonic stem cells. The size and numbers of EBs were greatly increased, together with the up-regulated N-cadherin expression. Also, MAP-2 expression and neurite outgrowth were much increased with activation of serine/threonine protein kinase (Akt) and blocked by addition of an Akt inhibitor (LY294002). Our results suggested that NAC increased EB formation by up-regulating the N-cadherin expression. Furthermore, NAC-enhanced neuronal differentiation was mediated by activation of Akt.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Acetylcysteine / pharmacology*
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Animals
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Cadherins / genetics
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Cadherins / metabolism*
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Cell Count
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Cell Differentiation / drug effects
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Cell Differentiation / genetics
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Cell Line
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Chromones / pharmacology
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Embryoid Bodies / cytology
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Embryoid Bodies / metabolism*
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Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology
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Embryonic Stem Cells / drug effects*
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Embryonic Stem Cells / metabolism
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Mice
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism
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Morpholines / pharmacology
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / antagonists & inhibitors
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism*
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Signal Transduction / drug effects
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Transcriptional Activation / drug effects
Substances
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Cadherins
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Chromones
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Microtubule-Associated Proteins
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Morpholines
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Protein Kinase Inhibitors
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2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
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Acetylcysteine