Altered ganglioside expression by SH-SY5Y cells upon retinoic acid-induced neuronal differentiation

SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma cells were used to study the effect of retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation on the expression of gangliosides and neuronal markers. In the presence of 10 microM RA, more than 70% of the cells differentiate to a neuronal phenotype within 8 days. They extend long neuritic processes and show an enhanced immuno-expression of neurone-specific enolase (NSE), neurofilament protein (NF-M), and polysialic acid (PSA). SH-SY5Y cells were found to express at least 12 different gangliosides. RA-induced neuronal differentiation led to a decrease in the content of GM2, GD3, and GD2 and to a 3-7 fold increased concentration of the ganglio-tetraosyl gangliosides GM1, GD1a, GT1a, GD1b, and GT1b. Thus, RA-induced neuronal differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells is accompanied by ganglioside changes similar to those observed during embryonic neuronal differentiation.