Human neuroblastoma cell differentiation requires protein kinase C-theta

Neuroblastoma LAN-5 cells exposed to retinoic acid cease to multiply and extend neurite outgrowths acquiring a neuronal phenotype. We now report that protein kinase C-theta; (PKC-theta;) isozyme is involved in this differentiation process due to the following findings: (i) PKC-theta; is expressed by LAN-5 cells as a nuclear and perinuclear protein; (ii) cell stimulation with retinoic acid promotes in a large increase in the expression level of the kinase and its intracellular redistribution; and (iii) a PKC-theta; antisense oligonucleotide reduces at the same time the expression level of the kinase and the cell response to retinoic acid. Altogether these data are consistent with a specific role played by PKC-theta; in the differentiation program of neuronal cells.