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Updated: Jul 1, 2026
Differentiation of the SH-SY5Y Human Neuroblastoma Cell Line
Published on: February 17, 2016
Differential Gene Expression in Differentiated Human Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cells in Response to a Cocktail of
Prakshit Niraula1, Rachel A Page1, Barry R Palmer1
1School of Health Sciences, Massey University, Wellington 6021, New Zealand.
Abstract:
Differentiated human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells were exposed to either 0.2 μM nicotine, a tobacco smoke preparation (TPM) diluted to the same nicotine concentration, or a cocktail of seven tobacco smoke monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) at the concentrations measured in the TPM. Treatment occurred for 3 days, such that the cellular monoamine oxidase (MAO) concentration was reduced by approximately 50% in both the TPM and MAOI cocktail exposure groups. Changes in MAO gene expression after exposure to the different treatments were determined using qPCR, and the effect of these exposure treatments on global gene expression was also examined using mRNA sequencing. No change in MAOA and MAOB gene expression levels was observed, after any treatment, either using qPCR or mRNA sequencing. The MAOI versus control treatment comparison revealed that four genes were >2-fold down-regulated (ZNF727, RP11-310E22.4, CRYM, SEMA3F), and 19 genes were up-regulated after 3 days' exposure to the MAOI cocktail. Many of these differentially expressed genes were linked with disease conditions related to smoking and addiction. Exposure to nicotine and TPM each resulted in up- and down-regulation of different sets of genes. The results indicate that changes in MAO gene expression are unlikely to be responsible for the changes in MAO activity. The association between genes whose expression changes with tobacco MAO treatment and smoking-related diseases and addiction suggests the central role that MAO inhibition may play in mediating the effects of smoking on smokers.
Insights
Tobacco smoke components, not MAO gene expression changes, alter gene expression in neuroblastoma cells. MAO inhibition by tobacco may link smoking to addiction and disease.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
- Genomics
Background:
- Tobacco smoke contains nicotine and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).
- MAOIs in tobacco smoke reduce monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity.
- The impact of MAO inhibition on gene expression in neuronal cells is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of nicotine, tobacco smoke preparation (TPM), and MAOIs on MAO gene expression and global gene expression in differentiated human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells.
- To determine if changes in MAO gene expression correlate with reduced MAO activity observed after tobacco smoke exposure.
Main Methods:
- Differentiated SH-SY5Y cells were exposed to nicotine, TPM, or an MAOI cocktail for 3 days.
- MAO activity was measured to confirm inhibition.
- Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and mRNA sequencing were used to analyze MAO gene expression and global gene expression changes.
Main Results:
- MAO activity was reduced by approximately 50% in cells exposed to TPM and the MAOI cocktail.
- No significant changes in MAOA and MAOB gene expression were observed with any treatment.
- MAOI cocktail exposure led to differential expression of 23 genes, many linked to smoking-related diseases and addiction.
- Nicotine and TPM exposure also resulted in distinct sets of gene expression changes.
Conclusions:
- Reduced MAO activity in response to tobacco smoke components is not mediated by changes in MAO gene expression.
- The observed gene expression alterations, particularly those induced by MAOIs, suggest a role for MAO inhibition in mediating smoking-related diseases and addiction.
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