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Expression of the trefoil polypeptide ITF in PC12 cells
J C Probst1, R Landgraf, C Behl
1Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Neuroendocrinology, Munich, Germany. jcprobst@neuro.mpg.de
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology International
|June 1, 1997
Summary
Trefoil polypeptides, like intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), are found in the brain. Researchers used PC12 cells to show that dexamethasone, cyclic adenosine monophosphate, and nerve growth factor increase ITF expression, suggesting neuronal functions.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Trefoil polypeptides, including intestinal trefoil factor (ITF), are primarily found in amphibian skin and mammalian gastrointestinal tracts, often alongside mucin-glycoproteins.
- Recent studies indicate trefoil polypeptide expression in various regions of the human and murine brain.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns and potential functions of intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) in rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells.
- To explore the regulation of ITF expression by specific stimuli in a neuronal cell model.
Main Methods:
- Utilized reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to assess basal and induced ITF expression.
- Employed immunocytochemistry to confirm protein expression levels.
- Treated PC12 cells with dexamethasone, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and nerve growth factor (NGF).
Main Results:
- PC12 cells exhibited low basal expression of ITF.
- Treatment with dexamethasone, cAMP, and NGF significantly increased ITF expression at both mRNA and protein levels.
- These stimuli were shown to directly modulate ITF peptide levels.
Conclusions:
- The expression of trefoil polypeptide ITF can be modulated by various stimuli in PC12 cells.
- These findings provide a foundation for further research into the novel functions of this gut-brain polypeptide in neuronal cells.
- PC12 cells serve as a valuable model for studying ITF's role in the nervous system.