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A novel function of the human oncogene Stil: Regulation of PC12 cell toxic susceptibility through the Shh pathway
Lei Li1, Aprell L Carr1, Lei Sun2
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556.
Abstract:
The human oncogene SCL/TAL1 interrupting locus (Stil) is highly conserved in vertebrate species. Here, we report new findings of Stil in the regulation of toxic susceptibility in mammalian dopaminergic (DA)-like PC12 cells. RNAi-mediated knockdown of Stil expression did not affect the survival of proliferating PC12 cells but caused a significant amount of cell death in differentiated neurons after toxic drug treatment. In contrast, overexpression of Stil increased toxic susceptibility only in proliferating cells but produced no effect in mature neurons. Exogenetic inactivation or activation of the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling transduction mimicked the effect of Stil knockdown or overexpression in regulation of PC12 cell toxic susceptibility, suggesting that Stil exerts its role through the Shh pathway. Together, the data provide evidence for novel functions of the human oncogene Stil in neural toxic susceptibility.
Insights
The human oncogene Stil regulates toxic susceptibility in dopaminergic neurons. Stil
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- The human oncogene SCL/TAL1 interrupting locus (Stil) is crucial in vertebrate development.
- Its role in neural toxic susceptibility remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of Stil in regulating toxic susceptibility in mammalian dopaminergic (DA)-like PC12 cells.
- To elucidate the signaling pathways involved in Stil-mediated regulation of cellular response to toxins.
Main Methods:
- RNAi-mediated knockdown and overexpression of Stil in PC12 cells.
- Assessment of cell survival following toxic drug treatment in proliferating and differentiated PC12 cells.
- Modulation of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling to investigate its interaction with Stil.
Main Results:
- Stil knockdown increased cell death in differentiated neurons upon toxic drug exposure.
- Stil overexpression enhanced toxic susceptibility in proliferating PC12 cells but not in differentiated neurons.
- Manipulation of Shh signaling mimicked Stil's effects, indicating its involvement in the pathway.
Conclusions:
- The human oncogene Stil plays a novel role in modulating neural toxic susceptibility.
- Stil exerts its regulatory function through the Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway.
- These findings offer new insights into the mechanisms underlying neuronal vulnerability to toxins.
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