Genistein enhances the NGF-induced neurite outgrowth

In the present report, we studied if an isoflavone, genistein, enhances the nerve growth factor (NGF)-induced neurite outgrowth of PC12 cells. Application of genistein enhanced the NGF-induced neurite outgrowth. Knockdown of Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporter isoform 1 (NKCC1) abolished the stimulatory effect of genistein on the neurite outgrowth. These observations indicate that NKCC1 is essential for genistein to stimulate the NGF-induced neurite outgrowth, although genistein had no effect on the protein expression of NKCC1. On the other hand, genistein activates NKCC1 as shown in our previous study. Taken together, these observations indicate that genistein enhanced the NGF-induced neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells via activation of NKCC1.