Biomaterial Database

Expression and function of the nerve growth factor receptor (TRK-A) in human neuroblastoma cell lines. 1994

C G Azar, and N J Scavarda, and A Nakagawara, and G M Brodeur

Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is known to play a critical role in the differentiation and survival of normal sympathetic neurons through its interaction with a specific cell surface receptor. We analyzed ten well-characterized neuroblastoma cell lines for the expression and function of endogenous and exogenous p140TRK-A, and p75LNGFR. Exogenous LNGFR or TRK-A (or both) were introduced by transfection into three neuroblastoma cell lines. Transfected and untransfected neuroblastoma cell lines were analyzed by Northern analysis as well as tyrosine phosphorylation studies. Results indicate that endogenous TRK-A is expressed and/or p140TRK-A is phosphorylated in 10 of 10 cell lines. However, no other downstream responses to NGF stimulation (such as tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC gamma 1, PI-3 kinase, ERK1 and ERK2, induction of FOS and NGFI-A mRNAs, and neurite extension) were observed in the unresponsive cell lines. Transfection with p75LNGFR alone had no effect on responses to NGF stimulation. Three cell lines stably transfected with TRK-A exhibited early responses to NGF stimulation, but neurite extension was not observed. Our results indicate that endogenous TRK-A in non-responsive cell lines is either defective, or present in amounts below a threshold level required to elicit measurable responses to NGF. Furthermore, even after transfection with exogenous TRK-A, early responses were restored but later events such as neurite outgrowth did not occur, suggesting that downstream responsiveness is blocked as well.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009414	Nerve Growth Factors	Factors which enhance the growth potentialities of sensory and sympathetic nerve cells.	Neurite Outgrowth Factor,Neurite Outgrowth Factors,Neuronal Growth-Associated Protein,Neuronotrophic Factor,Neurotrophic Factor,Neurotrophic Factors,Neurotrophin,Neurotrophins,Growth-Associated Proteins, Neuronal,Neuronal Growth-Associated Proteins,Neuronotrophic Factors,Neurotrophic Protein,Neurotrophic Proteins,Proteins, Neuronal Growth-Associated,Factor, Neurite Outgrowth,Factor, Neuronotrophic,Factor, Neurotrophic,Factors, Nerve Growth,Factors, Neurite Outgrowth,Factors, Neuronotrophic,Factors, Neurotrophic,Growth Associated Proteins, Neuronal,Growth-Associated Protein, Neuronal,Neuronal Growth Associated Protein,Neuronal Growth Associated Proteins,Outgrowth Factor, Neurite,Outgrowth Factors, Neurite,Protein, Neuronal Growth-Associated
D009447	Neuroblastoma	A common neoplasm of early childhood arising from neural crest cells in the sympathetic nervous system, and characterized by diverse clinical behavior, ranging from spontaneous remission to rapid metastatic progression and death. This tumor is the most common intraabdominal malignancy of childhood, but it may also arise from thorax, neck, or rarely occur in the central nervous system. Histologic features include uniform round cells with hyperchromatic nuclei arranged in nests and separated by fibrovascular septa. Neuroblastomas may be associated with the opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome. (From DeVita et al., Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, 5th ed, pp2099-2101; Curr Opin Oncol 1998 Jan;10(1):43-51)	Neuroblastomas
D010766	Phosphorylation	The introduction of a phosphoryl group into a compound through the formation of an ester bond between the compound and a phosphorus moiety.	Phosphorylations
D011518	Proto-Oncogene Proteins	Products of proto-oncogenes. Normally they do not have oncogenic or transforming properties, but are involved in the regulation or differentiation of cell growth. They often have protein kinase activity.	Cellular Proto-Oncogene Proteins,c-onc Proteins,Proto Oncogene Proteins, Cellular,Proto-Oncogene Products, Cellular,Cellular Proto Oncogene Proteins,Cellular Proto-Oncogene Products,Proto Oncogene Products, Cellular,Proto Oncogene Proteins,Proto-Oncogene Proteins, Cellular,c onc Proteins
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012333	RNA, Messenger	RNA sequences that serve as templates for protein synthesis. Bacterial mRNAs are generally primary transcripts in that they do not require post-transcriptional processing. Eukaryotic mRNA is synthesized in the nucleus and must be exported to the cytoplasm for translation. Most eukaryotic mRNAs have a sequence of polyadenylic acid at the 3' end, referred to as the poly(A) tail. The function of this tail is not known for certain, but it may play a role in the export of mature mRNA from the nucleus as well as in helping stabilize some mRNA molecules by retarding their degradation in the cytoplasm.	Messenger RNA,Messenger RNA, Polyadenylated,Poly(A) Tail,Poly(A)+ RNA,Poly(A)+ mRNA,RNA, Messenger, Polyadenylated,RNA, Polyadenylated,mRNA,mRNA, Non-Polyadenylated,mRNA, Polyadenylated,Non-Polyadenylated mRNA,Poly(A) RNA,Polyadenylated mRNA,Non Polyadenylated mRNA,Polyadenylated Messenger RNA,Polyadenylated RNA,RNA, Polyadenylated Messenger,mRNA, Non Polyadenylated
D014162	Transfection	The uptake of naked or purified DNA by CELLS, usually meaning the process as it occurs in eukaryotic cells. It is analogous to bacterial transformation (TRANSFORMATION, BACTERIAL) and both are routinely employed in GENE TRANSFER TECHNIQUES.	Transfections
D014407	Tumor Cells, Cultured	Cells grown in vitro from neoplastic tissue. If they can be established as a TUMOR CELL LINE, they can be propagated in cell culture indefinitely.	Cultured Tumor Cells,Neoplastic Cells, Cultured,Cultured Neoplastic Cells,Cell, Cultured Neoplastic,Cell, Cultured Tumor,Cells, Cultured Neoplastic,Cells, Cultured Tumor,Cultured Neoplastic Cell,Cultured Tumor Cell,Neoplastic Cell, Cultured,Tumor Cell, Cultured
D015152	Blotting, Northern	Detection of RNA that has been electrophoretically separated and immobilized by blotting on nitrocellulose or other type of paper or nylon membrane followed by hybridization with labeled NUCLEIC ACID PROBES.	Northern Blotting,Blot, Northern,Northern Blot,Blots, Northern,Blottings, Northern,Northern Blots,Northern Blottings
D015870	Gene Expression	The phenotypic manifestation of a gene or genes by the processes of GENETIC TRANSCRIPTION and GENETIC TRANSLATION.	Expression, Gene,Expressions, Gene,Gene Expressions