Abstract
We examined the effects on astrocytes of ACTH, which is used to treat West syndrome. We stimulated cultured rat astrocytes with ACTH(1-24), corticotropin-releasing factor, and dexamethasone, and examined changes in neurotrophic factor mRNAs by reverse transcription-PCR. Down-regulation of ciliary neurotrophic factor mRNA expression was observed by stimulation with ACTH(1-24), but the expression of nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and nerotrophin-3 mRNAs was unaffected. Northern blot analysis revealed that the decrease in ciliary neurotrophic factor mRNA occurred 4 h after stimulation with more than 10 nM of ACTH(1-24). Up-regulation of nerotrophin-3 mRNA expression was found after stimulation with 1 mM dexamethasone. These results suggest that ACTH(1-24) administrated in West syndrome may influence the expression of neurotrophic factors in astrocytes in vivo.
Publication types
-
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Astrocytes / drug effects*
-
Astrocytes / metabolism*
-
Base Sequence
-
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / genetics
-
Cells, Cultured
-
Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor / genetics*
-
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / pharmacology
-
Cosyntropin / pharmacology*
-
Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
-
DNA / genetics
-
Dexamethasone / pharmacology
-
Down-Regulation / drug effects
-
Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
-
Humans
-
Infant
-
Nerve Growth Factor / genetics
-
Neurotrophin 3 / genetics
-
Protein Kinase C / antagonists & inhibitors
-
RNA, Messenger / genetics
-
RNA, Messenger / metabolism
-
Rats
-
Spasms, Infantile / drug therapy
-
Spasms, Infantile / metabolism
Substances
-
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor
-
Ciliary Neurotrophic Factor
-
Enzyme Inhibitors
-
Neurotrophin 3
-
RNA, Messenger
-
Cosyntropin
-
Dexamethasone
-
DNA
-
Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
-
Nerve Growth Factor
-
Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases
-
Protein Kinase C