Expression of human glutamate receptors (GluR) in neuroblastoma cell lines

Neuroblastoma cell lines are useful for the investigation of neuronal receptor regulation since these cells display various neuronal features. Here we report the analysis of human AMPA and kainate receptor expression in four neuroblastoma cell lines (SK-N-MC, IMR-32, CHP 126 and NMB/N7). The reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) demonstrated the presence of hGluR1, hGluR4 and EAA4 transcripts in all four cell lines whereas hGluR3 mRNA was undetectable. The pattern of expression of hGluR2, EAA1, EAA2, EAA3 and EAA5 was more complex and differed among the cell lines tested. Immunoblot analysis and electrophysiological recordings failed to demonstrate expression of hGluR1-hGluR4, EAA1/EAA2 proteins and the formation of functional AMPA/kainate receptor channels. These cell lines might provide a valuable model to study the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of AMPA and kainate receptor expression.