 |
Previous Article | Next Article 
Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 13, 3669-3680, Copyright © 1993 by Society for Neuroscience
A system for characterizing cellular and molecular events in programmed neuronal cell death
RN Pittman, S Wang, AJ DiBenedetto and JC Mills
Department of Pharmacology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104.
A model system has been established in which PC12 cells are converted to
neuronal-like cells that undergo transcription-dependent cell death
following removal of NGF. Nineteen sublines of PC12 cells were tested to
establish parameters for making cells dependent on NGF for survival. In
most sublines, a relatively small percentage of cells become dependent on
NGF for survival, and following removal of NGF, most of the cells begin
proliferating in serum-containing medium. In several sublines, however, a
significant percentage of cells die following removal of NGF. One of these
sublines, PC6-3, can be grown under conditions in which 90% of the cells
undergo transcription-dependent cell death following removal of NGF in
either serum-free or serum- containing medium. Fourteen hours after
removing NGF, 50% of the cells are committed to die, while initial
morphological signs of cell death as determined by time-lapse
videomicroscopy occur 2-6 hr later and include loss of neurites followed by
a 1-3 hr period of active membrane "blebbing" and protrusions. Cell death
can be blocked by the RNA synthesis inhibitor actinomycin D, the protein
synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, KCl, basic fibroblast growth factor, or
dibutryl-cAMP, but not by epidermal growth factor, leupeptin, or the
endonuclease inhibitor aurintricarboxylic acid (ATA). Removal of NGF
activates an endonuclease that causes nucleosomal laddering of the DNA;
however, endonuclease activity does not appear to be required for cell
death. In agreement with previous studies (Batistatou and Greene, 1991;
Rukenstein et al., 1991) demonstrating that naive PC12 cells undergo
transcription-independent cell death when shifted into serum-free medium in
the absence of growth factors, all cell lines tested except for one die
when cultured in RPMI medium lacking growth factors. DNA fragmentation is a
prominent feature of transcription-independent cell death, and death can be
blocked with NGF, ATA, and dibutryl-cAMP but not with actinomycin D or KCl.
The PC12 model system described here should be useful for identifying cell
death genes and for characterizing cellular and molecular events in
programmed neuronal cell death.
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Saraf, D. M. Virshup, and S. Strack
Differential Expression of the B'beta Regulatory Subunit of Protein Phosphatase 2A Modulates Tyrosine Hydroxylase Phosphorylation and Catecholamine Synthesis
J. Biol. Chem.,
January 5, 2007;
282(1):
573 - 580.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Bai and A. I. Cederbaum
Cycloheximide Protects HepG2 Cells from Serum Withdrawal-Induced Apoptosis by Decreasing p53 and Phosphorylated p53 Levels
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.,
December 1, 2006;
319(3):
1435 - 1443.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
F. Edlich, M. Weiwad, D. Wildemann, F. Jarczowski, S. Kilka, M.-C. Moutty, G. Jahreis, C. Lucke, W. Schmidt, F. Striggow, et al.
The Specific FKBP38 Inhibitor N-(N',N'-Dimethylcarboxamidomethyl)cycloheximide Has Potent Neuroprotective and Neurotrophic Properties in Brain Ischemia
J. Biol. Chem.,
May 26, 2006;
281(21):
14961 - 14970.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
V. M. Miller, R. F. Nelson, C. M. Gouvion, A. Williams, E. Rodriguez-Lebron, S. Q. Harper, B. L. Davidson, M. R. Rebagliati, and H. L. Paulson
CHIP Suppresses Polyglutamine Aggregation and Toxicity In Vitro and In Vivo
J. Neurosci.,
October 5, 2005;
25(40):
9152 - 9161.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. K. Dagda, C. A. Barwacz, J. T. Cribbs, and S. Strack
Unfolding-resistant Translocase Targeting: A NOVEL MECHANISM FOR OUTER MITOCHONDRIAL MEMBRANE LOCALIZATION EXEMPLIFIED BY THE B{beta}2 REGULATORY SUBUNIT OF PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE 2A
J. Biol. Chem.,
July 22, 2005;
280(29):
27375 - 27382.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. K. Parran, A. Barker, and M. Ehrich
Effects of Thimerosal on NGF Signal Transduction and Cell Death in Neuroblastoma Cells
Toxicol. Sci.,
July 1, 2005;
86(1):
132 - 140.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G.-X. Shi and D. A. Andres
Rit Contributes to Nerve Growth Factor-Induced Neuronal Differentiation via Activation of B-Raf-Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase and p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Cascades
Mol. Cell. Biol.,
January 15, 2005;
25(2):
830 - 846.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Strack, J. T. Cribbs, and L. Gomez
Critical Role for Protein Phosphatase 2A Heterotrimers in Mammalian Cell Survival
J. Biol. Chem.,
November 12, 2004;
279(46):
47732 - 47739.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. M. Wright, M. W. Linhoff, P. R. Potts, and M. Deshmukh
Decreased apoptosome activity with neuronal differentiation sets the threshold for strict IAP regulation of apoptosis
J. Cell Biol.,
October 25, 2004;
167(2):
303 - 313.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Chittka, J. C. Arevalo, M. Rodriguez-Guzman, P. Perez, M. V. Chao, and M. Sendtner
The p75NTR-interacting protein SC1 inhibits cell cycle progression by transcriptional repression of cyclin E
J. Cell Biol.,
March 29, 2004;
164(7):
985 - 996.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
L.-Y. Yu, E. Jokitalo, Y.-F. Sun, P. Mehlen, D. Lindholm, M. Saarma, and U. Arumae
GDNF-deprived sympathetic neurons die via a novel nonmitochondrial pathway
J. Cell Biol.,
December 8, 2003;
163(5):
987 - 997.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. H. Chang, E. Mellon, N. C. Schanen, and J. L. Twiss
Persistent TrkA Activity Is Necessary to Maintain Transcription in Neuronally Differentiated PC12 Cells
J. Biol. Chem.,
October 31, 2003;
278(44):
42877 - 42885.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Gilley, P. J. Coffer, and J. Ham
FOXO transcription factors directly activate bim gene expression and promote apoptosis in sympathetic neurons
J. Cell Biol.,
August 18, 2003;
162(4):
613 - 622.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. K. Dagda, J. A. Zaucha, B. E. Wadzinski, and S. Strack
A Developmentally Regulated, Neuron-specific Splice Variant of the Variable Subunit B{beta} Targets Protein Phosphatase 2A to Mitochondria and Modulates Apoptosis
J. Biol. Chem.,
June 27, 2003;
278(27):
24976 - 24985.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
V. M. Miller, H. Xia, G. L. Marrs, C. M. Gouvion, G. Lee, B. L. Davidson, and H. L. Paulson
Allele-specific silencing of dominant disease genes
PNAS,
June 10, 2003;
100(12):
7195 - 7200.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. H. Brush, D. C. Weiser, and S. Shenolikar
Growth Arrest and DNA Damage-Inducible Protein GADD34 Targets Protein Phosphatase 1{alpha} to the Endoplasmic Reticulum and Promotes Dephosphorylation of the {alpha} Subunit of Eukaryotic Translation Initiation Factor 2
Mol. Cell. Biol.,
February 15, 2003;
23(4):
1292 - 1303.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Strack
Overexpression of the Protein Phosphatase 2A Regulatory Subunit Bgamma Promotes Neuronal Differentiation by Activating the MAP Kinase (MAPK) Cascade
J. Biol. Chem.,
October 25, 2002;
277(44):
41525 - 41532.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. Yan, Y. Liang, K. D. Nylander, and N. F. Schor
TrkA as a Life and Death Receptor: Receptor Dose as a Mediator of Function
Cancer Res.,
September 1, 2002;
62(17):
4867 - 4875.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. L. Spencer, H. Shao, and D. A. Andres
Induction of Neurite Extension and Survival in Pheochromocytoma Cells by the Rit GTPase
J. Biol. Chem.,
May 31, 2002;
277(23):
20160 - 20168.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. Strack, R. Ruediger, G. Walter, R. K. Dagda, C. A. Barwacz, and J. T. Cribbs
Protein Phosphatase 2A Holoenzyme Assembly. IDENTIFICATION OF CONTACTS BETWEEN B-FAMILY REGULATORY AND SCAFFOLDING A SUBUNITS
J. Biol. Chem.,
May 31, 2002;
277(23):
20750 - 20755.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. L. Spencer, H. Shao, H. M. Tucker, and D. A. Andres
Nerve Growth Factor-dependent Activation of the Small GTPase Rin
J. Biol. Chem.,
May 10, 2002;
277(20):
17605 - 17615.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. S. De Zutter and R. J. Davis
Pro-apoptotic gene expression mediated by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway
PNAS,
May 3, 2001;
(2001)
111027698.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
W. Nakajima, A. Ishida, M. S. Lange, K. L. Gabrielson, M. A. Wilson, L. J. Martin, M. E. Blue, and M. V. Johnston
Apoptosis Has a Prolonged Role in the Neurodegeneration after Hypoxic Ischemia in the Newborn Rat
J. Neurosci.,
November 1, 2000;
20(21):
7994 - 8004.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. E. Haskell, C. J. Carr, D. A. Pearce, M. J. Bennett, and B. L. Davidson
Batten disease: evaluation of CLN3 mutations on protein localization and function
Hum. Mol. Genet.,
March 22, 2000;
9(5):
735 - 744.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. K. Davis and G. V. W. Johnson
The Microtubule Binding of Tau and High Molecular Weight Tau in Apoptotic PC12 Cells Is Impaired because of Altered Phosphorylation
J. Biol. Chem.,
December 10, 1999;
274(50):
35686 - 35692.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K.-I Lin, P. Pasinelli, R. H. Brown, J. M. Hardwick, and R. R. Ratan
Decreased Intracellular Superoxide Levels Activate Sindbis Virus-induced Apoptosis
J. Biol. Chem.,
May 7, 1999;
274(19):
13650 - 13655.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. J. Ivins, J. K. Ivins, J. P. Sharp, and C. W. Cotman
Multiple Pathways of Apoptosis in PC12 Cells. CrmA INHIBITS APOPTOSIS INDUCED BY beta -AMYLOID
J. Biol. Chem.,
January 22, 1999;
274(4):
2107 - 2112.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. M. Lindquist and S. Rehnmark
Ambient Temperature Regulation of Apoptosis in Brown Adipose Tissue. Erk1/2 PROMOTES NOREPINEPHRINE-DEPENDENT CELL SURVIVAL
J. Biol. Chem.,
November 13, 1998;
273(46):
30147 - 30156.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. A. Erhardt and R. N. Pittman
Ectopic p21WAF1 Expression Induces Differentiation-specific Cell Cycle Changes in PC12 Cells Characteristic of Nerve Growth Factor Treatment
J. Biol. Chem.,
September 4, 1998;
273(36):
23517 - 23523.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
H. Zhou, S. A. Summers, M. J. Birnbaum, and R. N. Pittman
Inhibition of Akt Kinase by Cell-permeable Ceramide and Its Implications for Ceramide-induced Apoptosis
J. Biol. Chem.,
June 26, 1998;
273(26):
16568 - 16575.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
F. Esch, K.-I Lin, A. Hills, K. Zaman, J. M. Baraban, S. Chatterjee, L. Rubin, D. E. Ash, and R. R. Ratan
Purification of a Multipotent Antideath Activity from Bovine Liver and Its Identification as Arginase: Nitric Oxide-Independent Inhibition of Neuronal Apoptosis
J. Neurosci.,
June 1, 1998;
18(11):
4083 - 4095.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. A. Mackler, T. R. Kleyman, and X.-Y. Cha
Regulation of the Na+/K+-ATPase Pump in Vitro after Long-Term Exposure to Cocaine: Role of Serotonin
J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther.,
May 1, 1998;
285(2):
835 - 843.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. Zechner, R. Craig, D. S. Hanford, P. M. McDonough, R. A. Sabbadini, and C. C. Glembotski
MKK6 Activates Myocardial Cell NF-kappa B and Inhibits Apoptosis in a p38 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase-dependent Manner
J. Biol. Chem.,
April 3, 1998;
273(14):
8232 - 8239.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. C. Mills, N. L. Stone, J. Erhardt, and R. N. Pittman
Apoptotic Membrane Blebbing Is Regulated by Myosin Light Chain Phosphorylation
J. Cell Biol.,
February 9, 1998;
140(3):
627 - 636.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Mills, V. Lee, and R. Pittman
Activation of a PP2A-like phosphatase and dephosphorylation of tau protein characterize onset of the execution phase of apoptosis
J. Cell Sci.,
January 3, 1998;
111(5):
625 - 636.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
S. A. Capurso, M. E. Calhoun, R. R. Sukhov, P. R. Mouton, D. L. Price, and V. E. Koliatsos
Deafferentation Causes Apoptosis in Cortical Sensory Neurons in the Adult Rat
J. Neurosci.,
October 1, 1997;
17(19):
7372 - 7384.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Imaizumi, M. Tsuda, Y. Imai, A. Wanaka, T. Takagi, and M. Tohyama
Molecular Cloning of a Novel Polypeptide, DP5, Induced during Programmed Neuronal Death
J. Biol. Chem.,
July 25, 1997;
272(30):
18842 - 18848.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. M. Troy, L. Stefanis, L. A. Greene, and M. L. Shelanski
Nedd2 Is Required for Apoptosis after Trophic Factor Withdrawal, But Not Superoxide Dismutase (SOD1) Downregulation, in Sympathetic Neurons and PC12 Cells
J. Neurosci.,
March 15, 1997;
17(6):
1911 - 1918.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
K. Furukawa, S. Estus, W. Fu, R. J. Mark, and M. P. Mattson
Neuroprotective Action of Cycloheximide Involves Induction of Bcl-2 and Antioxidant Pathways
J. Cell Biol.,
March 10, 1997;
136(5):
1137 - 1149.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Y. Muragaki, T. T. Chou, D. R. Kaplan, J. Q. Trojanowski, and V. M.-Y. Lee
Nerve Growth Factor Induces Apoptosis in Human Medulloblastoma Cell Lines that Express TrkA Receptors
J. Neurosci.,
January 15, 1997;
17(2):
530 - 542.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Parrizas, A. R. Saltiel, and D. LeRoith
Insulin-like Growth Factor 1Inhibits Apoptosis Using the Phosphatidylinositol 3'-Kinase and Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathways
J. Biol. Chem.,
January 3, 1997;
272(1):
154 - 161.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. C. Brandt, J. E. Sisken, R. L. Neve, and T. C. Vanaman
Blockade of plasma membrane calcium pumping ATPase isoform I impairs nerve growth factor-induced neurite extension in pheochromocytoma cells
PNAS,
November 26, 1996;
93(24):
13843 - 13848.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. C. Fox and J. R. Shanley
Antisense Inhibition of Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Induces Apoptosis in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
J. Biol. Chem.,
May 24, 1996;
271(21):
12578 - 12584.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
D. S. Park, S. E. Farinelli, and L. A. Greene
Inhibitors of Cyclin-dependent Kinases Promote Survival of Post-mitotic Neuronally Differentiated PC12 Cells and Sympathetic Neurons
J. Biol. Chem.,
April 5, 1996;
271(14):
8161 - 8169.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
Z. Xia, M. Dickens, J.ël Raingeaud, R. J. Davis, and M. E. Greenberg
Opposing Effects of ERK and JNK-p38 MAP Kinases on Apoptosis
Science,
November 24, 1995;
270(5240):
1326 - 1331.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
P. C. Brandt and T. C. Vanaman
Elevated Glucocorticoid Receptor Transactivation and Down-regulation of alpha 1 Integrin Are Associated with Loss of Plasma Membrane Ca2+-ATPase Isoform 1
J. Biol. Chem.,
August 4, 2000;
275(32):
24534 - 24539.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
E. J. Coulson, K. Reid, M. Baca, K. A. Shipham, S. M. Hulett, T. J. Kilpatrick, and P. F. Bartlett
Chopper, a New Death Domain of the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor That Mediates Rapid Neuronal Cell Death
J. Biol. Chem.,
September 22, 2000;
275(39):
30537 - 30545.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
G. S. De Zutter and R. J. Davis
Pro-apoptotic gene expression mediated by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway
PNAS,
May 22, 2001;
98(11):
6168 - 6173.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. Cellerino, L. Galli-Resta, and L. Colombaioni
The Dynamics of Neuronal Death: A Time-Lapse Study in the Retina
J. Neurosci.,
August 15, 2000;
20(16):
RC92 - RC92.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
|