Altered expression of helix-loop-helix transcriptional regulators and cyclin D1 in Wnt-1-transformed PC12 cells

Nerve growth factor induces PC12 cells to differentiate from a chromaffin cell to a sympathetic neuronal phenotype. In contrast, PC12 cells, which stably express Wnt-1, a secreted signaling factor required for development of mammalian midbrain and cerebellum, fail to express differentiation-specific genes in response to nerve growth factor. Analysis of factors binding to E box-containing regulatory elements of the terminal differentiation gene encoding peripherin suggested a differentiation-specific control of expression of helix-loop-helix transcriptional regulators. Specifically, the MASH-1 (mammalian achaete-scute homologue) helix-loop-helix transcription factor, which plays a positive role in neuronal differentiation, is reduced in Wnt-1/PC12 cells, and HES-1, a negative regulator of MASH-1, is increased. These data suggest that the differentiation block may result from induction of HES-1. Wnt-1/PC12 cells also proliferate more rapidly and express increased levels of cyclin D1. Thus, Wnt-1 may block the differentiation and enhance the proliferation of PC12 cells by activating HES-1 and cyclin D1 and repressing MASH-1.