Enhanced tyrosine hydroxylase expression in PC12 cells co-cultured with feline mesenchymal stem cells

J Vet Sci. 2007 Dec;8(4):377-82. doi: 10.4142/jvs.2007.8.4.377.

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) secrete a variety of neuroregulatory molecules, such as nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor, which upregulate tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene expression in PC12 cells. Enhancing TH gene expression is a critical step for treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). The objective of this study was to assess the effects of co-culturing PC12 cells with MSCs from feline bone marrow on TH protein expression. We divided the study into three groups: an MSC group, a PC12 cell group, and the combined MSC + PC12 cell group (the co-culture group). All cells were cultured in DMEM-HG medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum for three days. Thereafter, the cells were examined using western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. In western blots, the co-culture group demonstrated a stronger signal at 60 kDa than the PC12 cell group (p < 0.001). TH was not expressed in the MSC group, either in western blot or immunocytochemistry. Thus, the MSCs of feline bone marrow can up-regulate TH expression in PC12 cells. This implies a new role for MSCs in the neurodegenerative disease process.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Surface / metabolism
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cats / physiology*
  • Cell Culture Techniques
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic*
  • Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (Phosphorylating) / metabolism
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Mesenchymal Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Microscopy, Phase-Contrast
  • PC12 Cells / cytology
  • PC12 Cells / enzymology*
  • Rats
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antigens, Surface
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
  • Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (Phosphorylating)