Upregulation of Lhx8 increase VAChT expression and ACh release in neuronal cell line SHSY5Y

Neurosci Lett. 2014 Jan 24:559:184-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2013.11.047. Epub 2013 Dec 4.

Abstract

Lhx8 is a transcription factor for cholinergic differentiation. Our previous experiments found upregulation of Lhx8 promoted cholinergic neuronal differentiation of hippocampal neural stem/progenitor cells or hippocampal newborn neurons in vitro. However, the role of Lhx8 in VAChT expression and ACh release is still less understood. In this report, we transfected Lhx8 cDNA into neuronal cell line SHSY5Y by lentiviral vectors to acquire the cells which stably expressed high level of Lhx8. Using this cell model, we provided experimental evidence that increasing Lhx8 upregulated the expression of ChAT and VAChT, and also increased the ACh release in culture medium. We suggested that Lhx8 overexpression is a useful strategy to increase the release of ACh and maybe of therapeutic value to neurodegenerative diseases.

Keywords: ACh; ChAT; Lhx8; SHSY5Y; VAChT.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcholine / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / biosynthesis
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Random Allocation
  • Transcription Factors / biosynthesis
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Up-Regulation / genetics*
  • Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins / genetics*

Substances

  • LIM homeobox protein 8
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins
  • SLC18A3 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins
  • Acetylcholine