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Nerve growth factor modulates the expression and secretion of β‐amyloid precursor protein through different mechanisms in PC12 cells
Author(s) -
Villa Ana,
Latasa Maria Jesús,
Pascual Angel
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of neurochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.75
H-Index - 229
eISSN - 1471-4159
pISSN - 0022-3042
DOI - 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2001.00315.x
Subject(s) - nerve growth factor , amyloid precursor protein , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , epidermal growth factor , growth factor , p3 peptide , signal transduction , tyrosine kinase , secretion , senile plaques , alzheimer's disease , fibroblast growth factor , receptor , medicine , endocrinology , biochemistry , disease
The β‐amyloid protein, component of the senile plaques found in Alzheimer brains is proteolytically derived from the β‐amyloid precursor protein (APP), a larger membrane‐associated protein that is expressed in both neural and non‐neural cells. Overexpression of APP might be one of the mechanisms that more directly contributes to the development of Alzheimer's disease. The APP gene expression is regulated by a number of cellular mediators including nerve growth factor (NGF) and other ligands of tyrosine kinase receptors. We have previously described that NGF increases APP mRNA levels in PC12 cells. However, the molecular mechanisms and the precise signalling pathways that mediate its regulation are not yet well understood. In the present study we present evidence that NGF, and to a lesser extent fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor, stimulate APP promoter activity in PC12 cells. This induction is mediated by DNA sequences located between the nucleotides − 307 and − 15, and involves activation of the Ras–MAP kinase signalling pathway. In contrast, we have also found that NGF‐induced secretion of soluble fragments of APP into the culture medium is mediated by a Ras independent mechanism.