Cyclic AMP has a differentiative effect on an immortalized oligodendrocyte cell line

J Neurosci Res. 1993 Jun 15;35(3):288-96. doi: 10.1002/jnr.490350308.

Abstract

We investigated the effects of increasing the concentration of intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) on genes associated with oligodendrocyte differentiation in an immortalized glial cell line, 6E12, derived from the spinal cord of an MBP-SV40 large T-antigen transgenic mouse. Raising intracellular levels of cAMP induced expression of oligodendrocyte differentiation antigens recognized by O4 and anti-galactocerebroside antibodies, up-regulated expression of the proteolipid protein (PLP) gene, and down-regulated glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression. There was no treatment effect on myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) expression. These phenotypic changes are consistent with oligodendrocyte differentiation. Treatment of 6E12 cells with dibutyryl cyclic AMP (DBC) down-regulated myelin basic protein (MBP) gene expression, perhaps, because it also up-regulated expression of a putative MBP repressor SCIP/Tst-1. Moreover, the 6E12 cells expressed high levels of MBP mRNA but no MBP translation products were detected in the presence or absence of DBC. This immortalized glial cell line is proposed as a CNS model for cAMP-modulated myelin gene expression and for post-transcriptional regulation of MBP.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens / biosynthesis
  • Blotting, Northern
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cell Line
  • Cyclic AMP / pharmacology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / biosynthesis
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / genetics
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Myelin Basic Protein / biosynthesis
  • Myelin Basic Protein / genetics
  • Myelin Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Myelin Proteins / genetics
  • Myelin Proteolipid Protein
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein
  • Oligodendroglia / cytology
  • Oligodendroglia / drug effects*
  • Precipitin Tests
  • RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional / drug effects
  • Spinal Cord / cytology

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
  • Myelin Basic Protein
  • Myelin Proteins
  • Myelin Proteolipid Protein
  • Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein
  • Cyclic AMP