Reserpine increases opiate-like peptide content and tyrosine hydroxylase activity in adrenal medullary chromaffin cells in culture

Primary cultures of adrenal medullary chromaffin cells maintained in a serum-free medium retain high levels of both catecholamines and opiate-like peptides. Addition of reserpine (100nM) to the culture medium results in the exponential loss of cellular catecholamines (t_½ = 1.5days) and in an elevation of opiate-like peptide content and tyrosine hydroxylase activity without altering total cell protein content. The maximum increase in opioid activity as a result of reserpine treatment averaged 230% of untreated cell levels and was reached by 2–3 days after initiation of treatment. A similar time-course was observed for the elevation of tyrosine hydroxylase activity. The increases of opiate-like peptides and tyrosine hydroxylase induced by reserpine are blocked by inclusion of actinomycin D or cycloheximide in the culture medium, suggesting that both messenger ribonucleic acid and protein synthesis are required for the induction.These data suggest that synaptic activation is not the only long-term regulator of opiate-like peptide and catecholamine biosynthesis in the adrenal medulla and that the biosynthesis of opiate-like peptides, which are components of chromaffin vesicles, and tyrosine hydroxylase, the cytoplasmic, rate-limiting enzyme in catecholamine biosynthesis, are coordinately regulated.     

Inhibitory effect of polymyxin B on catecholamine secretion from cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells

Incubation of cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), an activator of Ca2+/phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C), was associated with increased secretion of catecholamine (CA) from the cells. Polymyxin B (PMB, 30-300 microM), a preferential inhibitor of protein kinase C, inhibited the TPA-induced secretion of CA. PMB also inhibited CA secretion induced by other secretagogues, the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin (10 microM), 56 mM K+ or acetylcholine (ACh). Ionomycin, 56 mM K+ or ACh increased the concentration of intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) (measured using the fluorescent calcium indicator quin2), whereas TPA did not increase [Ca2+]i. PMB blocked the increase in [Ca2+]i induced by 56 mM K+ or ACh at concentrations similar to those inhibiting the secretion of CA. In contrast, PMB did not affect ionomycin-induced increase in [Ca2+]i. These results strongly suggest that CA secretion induced by TPA or ionomycin is mediated via activation of protein kinase C. The results further indicate that in 56 mM K+- or ACh-evoked CA secretion, PMB inhibits the secretion by blocking Ca2+ influx into the cells.     

Phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase in protein kinase C-deficient PC12 cells

In order to study the role of protein kinase C in the regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation in PC12 cells, the effects of various agonists on diacylglycyerol accumulation in PC12 cells were measured and the ability of these agonists to increase the phosphorylation tyrosine hydroxylase in protein kinase C-deficient cells was evaluated. Bradykinin (10 μM) and elevated extracellular K⁺ (55 mM) increased the accumulation of [³H]diacylglycerol in PC12 cells that had been prelabeled with [³H]arachidonic acid, and so might be expected to activate protein kinase C in these cells; in contrast, nerve growth factor did not increase diacylglycerol accumulation in PC12 cells. Protein kinase C-deficient PC12 cells were prepared by incubating the cells for 24 h with 1 μM phorbol dibutyrate. This treatment resulted in the loss of approximately 90% of the protein kinase C activity in the cells. Control and protein kinase C-deficient cells were incubated with³²P_i for 90 min and then stimulated with various agonists.³²P-labeled tyrosine hydroxylase was isolated from the cells by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and subjected to tryptic hydrolysis.³²P-containing phosphopeptides were separated by two-dimensional thin-layer electrophoresis and chromatography, visualized by autoradiography, and quantitated by scintillation counting. Treatment of control cells with phorbol dibutyrate increased the incorporation of³²P into one tryptic phosphopeptide (referred to as T3) in tyrosine hydroxylase. Phorbol dibutyrate did not increase the phosphorylation of this peptide in protein kinase C-deficient cells. Bradykinin or 55 mM K⁺ increased the incorporation of³²P into four tyrosine hydroxylase phosphopeptides, including peptide T3. The increase in incorporation of³²P into peptide T3 elicited by these agents was selectively attenuated, but not abolished, in protein kinase C-deficient cells. Nerve growth factor also increased the incorporation of³²P into tyrosine hydroxylase peptide T3 in PC12 cells. The effect of nerve growth factor was not decreased in protein kinase C-deficient cells.

These results suggest that protein kinase C is responsible at least in part for the effects of bradykinin and elevated extracellular K⁺ on tyrosine hydroxylase phosphorylation, but that this kinase does not play a role in the mechanism by which nerve growth factor increases the phosphorylation of tyrosine hydroxylase.     

Fatty acids stimulate AMP-activated protein kinase and enhance fatty acid oxidation in L6 myotubes

We investigated the role of fatty acid availability on AMPK signalling and fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle. Incubating L6 skeletal muscle myotubes with palmitate (a saturated fatty acid) or linoleate (a polyunsaturated fatty acid) increased AMPK activity by 56 and 38%, respectively, compared with untreated cells. Consistent with these changes, AMPK Thr¹⁷² and acetyl-CoA carboxylase β Ser²¹⁸ phosphorylation were increased in fatty acid treated cells. Pre-incubating cells with palmitate or linoleate increased subsequent fatty acid oxidation by 86 and 92%, respectively. The enhanced AMPK signalling occurred in the absence of detectable changes in free AMP and glycogen content. The activity of the upstream kinase LKB1 was decreased by fatty acid treatment indicating that AMPK activation was not a consequence of LKB1 activation. Instead, fatty acids enhanced LKB1 phosphorylation of AMPK. Fatty acids did not alter LKB1 activity when either synthetic peptide or AMPK α(1–312) catalytic fragment was used as substrate indicating that the βγ subunits were required for the fatty acid activation. Infection of cells with a dominant-negative AMPK adenovirus reduced basal fatty acid oxidation and inhibited the stimulatory effects of fatty acid pretreatment on fatty acid oxidation. These results indicate that increasing fatty acid availability increases AMPK activity independent of changes in the cellular energy charge and support the view that fatty acids may modulate AMPK allosterically, making it a better substrate for LKB1.     

Stimulation by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide of muscarinic receptor-mediated catecholamine secretion from isolated guinea pig adrenal medullary cells

The effects of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on catecholamine (CA) secretion by isolated guinea pig adrenal medullary cells were studied. VIP (1 microM) alone induced only a slight secretion of CA, but it stimulated ACh-induced CA secretion. At concentrations of 0.01-1 microM, it stimulated muscarine-induced CA secretion, but not nicotine-induced CA secretion. It did not affect high K+ or Ca2+ ionophore-induced CA secretion. The stimulatory effect of VIP on muscarine-induced CA secretion was observed at muscarine concentrations of 2 200 microM and was detectable after 2 min incubation.     

The involvement of specific phospholipase C isozymes in catecholamine release from digitonin permeabilized bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells

The role of phospholipase C (PLC) in exocytosis has been investigated using digitonin permeabilized, [(3)H]noradrenaline ([(3)H]NA) loaded, bovine adrenal medullary chromaffin cells. The PLC inhibitor U-73122 caused a concentration-dependent suppression of Ca(2+)-evoked [(3)H]NA release but increased basal release (that occurring in the absence of Ca(2+)). Preincubation with antibodies against PLCgamma1 or PLCbeta3 (but not PLCdelta1, delta2, beta1 and beta2) also inhibited [(3)H]NA release evoked by Ca(2+) and increased basal release, indicating that only specific PLC isozymes are involved in these actions. Interestingly, PLCgamma1 (but not PLCbeta3) antibodies inhibited the ability of Ca(2+) to increase PLC activity in these permeabilized cells. These data therefore suggest that PLCgamma1 activity may have a specific role in regulating the exocytotic response from the adrenal chromaffin cell.     

The role of protein kinase C in histamine secretion from mast cells.

Receptor activation on the cell surface is coupled through a guanine nucleotide regulatory protein to polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase. The activation of this enzyme catalyses the hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol biphosphate. One of the products of this hydrolysis is diacylglycerol, which activates protein kinase C. It can also be activated by tumour-promoting phorbol esters. The synthetic diacylglycerol, 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-rac-glycerol (OAG) and the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) have been used to stimulate protein kinase C in a pure population of rat peritoneal mast cells. Both of them caused histamine release, but the rate of release with TPA or OAG alone was slow. The release was inhibited by blocking the oxidative energy metabolism with antimycin A, and was associated with progressive exocytosis, showing that it is a secretory process. Studies on the interaction between the stimulation of protein kinase C by OAG/TPA and the secretagogues showed a dual effect, both potentiation and inhibition. Antigen (in sensitized cells) and compound 48/80 showed this pattern of response. With the calcium ionophore, A23187, potentiation was the dominant effect, although some inhibition could be shown with TPA. This is possibly related to the large calcium influx which causes translocation of protein kinase C to the membranes and enhances its activity. The potentiation suggests that protein kinase C is involved in the secretion process by the secretagogues, while the inhibition reflects a regulatory function, which is apparently exerted through an inhibition of phosphatidylinositol breakdown. Calcium uptake was enhanced by both TPA and OAG. Protein kinase C may thus contribute to the replenishment of the intracellular calcium stores after the secretory response.     

Somatostatin and substance P inhibit catecholamine secretion from isolated cells of guinea-pig adrenal medulla

Chromaffin cells isolated from guinea-pig adrenal glands secrete catecholamines in response to acetylcholine, nicotine, pilocarpine, veratridine, and high [K⁺]. Both substance P and somatostatin inhibit acetylcholine-induced catecholamine secretion. The maximal inhibition of acetylcholine-induced catecholamine secretion produced by substance P and by somatostatin is approximately 60%: the concentrations of the peptides required for half-maximal inhibition of secretion are approximately 0.8 and 2 μM. respectively. The maximal inhibition of catecholamine secretion produced by somatostatin and that caused by substance P are not additive. The effects of the peptides on secretion are readily reversible. Somatostatin and substance P also inhibit nicotine-induced catecholamine secretion, but they do not inhibit catecholamine secretion stimulated by pilocarpine, veratridine, or high [K⁺]. Thus, these peptides specifically inhibit catecholamine secretion linked to stimulation of nicotinic receptors. The inhibition of acetylcholine-induced catecholamine secretion by somatostatin is noncompetitive with respect to acetylcholine, Na⁺ or Ca²⁺.Immunoreactive somatostatin and substance P are present in guinea-pig adrenal glands. It is suggested that these peptides may play a role in the regulation of catecholamine secretion from the adrenal medulla.     

Urocortin stimulates tyrosine hydroxylase activity via the cAMP/protein kinase a pathway in rat Pheochromocytoma PC12 cells

Urocortin is a novel mammalian member of the corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF)-related peptides. We have investigated the expression, mechanism of action and second messenger for urocortin in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells. We initially confirmed the expression of urocortin and CRF-R2beta, which is thought to be an endogenous receptor for urocortin, in PC12 cells. We also demonstrate that urocortin (> or = 1 nM) significantly elevates the level of cAMP in these cells. Moreover, alpha-helical CRF-(9-41), a more specific antagonist of CRF-R2 than CRF-R1 and the adenylate cyclase inhibitor SQ22536, inhibited the urocortin-induced increase in the level of cAMP. Thus, urocortin may exert its physiological role in chromaffin cells via CRF-R2beta coupling to adenylate cyclase. Urocortin (> or = 1 nM) significantly increased the mRNA level and activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of catecholamine. Furthermore, urocortin-induced changes in TH-mRNA and activity were inhibited by H89 (a PKA inhibitor) and SQ22536 as well as alpha-helical CRF-(9-41). However, urocortin did not affect DNA synthesis or catecholamine secretion in these cells. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that urocortin stimulates catecholamine biosynthesis via the cAMP/protein kinase A pathway in PC12 cells, where both urocortin and its receptor, CRF-R2, are expressed.     

Amyloid precursor protein processing is separately regulated by protein kinase C and tyrosine kinase in human astrocytes

Regulation of amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing by protein kinase C (PKC) and phosphotyrosine pathways was investigated in cultured human astrocytes. Phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate (PDBu), a PKC activator, increased secretion of APPalpha 2-3-fold over control values, and GF109203X, a PKC inhibitor, blocked this effect. Similarly, platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) increased the secreted form of APPalpha (sAPPalpha) level two-fold, and genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, blocked the stimulatory effect of PDGF. Co-treatment of PDGF and PDBu resulted in a five-fold increase in the sAPPalpha production, and genistein and GF109203X did not block the stimulatory effects of PDBu and PDGF, respectively. These results indicate that both PKC and phosphotyrosine pathways are involved in APP processing in human astrocytes, but they act independently. The two pathways appear to converge to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) because PD98059, a MAPK inhibitor, blocked the effects of PDBu and PDGF on APPalpha secretion.     

幽门螺杆菌依赖蛋白酪氨酸激酶途径诱导胃上皮细胞分泌IL-8

目的 分析中国临床分离的幽门螺杆菌的cag致病岛的差异和不同激酶抑制剂对幽门螺杆菌诱导中国人胃上皮细胞IL-8分泌的影响。方法 在体外分别用中国临床分离的cagA^ cagE^ ,cagA^ cagE^-0、cagA^-cagE^ 、cagA^-cagE^-的幽门螺杆菌与中国人胃上皮细胞MGC-803共培养,分泌的IL-8用ELISA进行检测,比较蛋白激酶A、C、G和蛋白酪氨酸激酶的抑制剂对幽门螺杆菌诱导分泌的IL-8用ELISA进行检测,比较蛋白激酶A、C、G和蛋白酪氨酸激酶的抑制剂对幽门螺杆菌诱导胃上皮细胞IL-8分泌的影响。结果 cagA^ cagE^ 幽门螺杆菌显著增加了胃上皮细胞IL-8的分泌,cagA^ cagE^-,cagA^-cagE^ 幽门螺杆菌作用次之,而cagA^-cagE^-幽门螺杆菌不能增加胃上皮细胞IL-8的分泌,蛋白激酶A、C、G的抑制剂不能阻断幽门螺杆菌增加胃上皮细胞IL-8的分泌,而蛋白酪氨酸激酶的抑制剂阻断了幽门螺杆菌增加胃上皮细胞IL-8的分泌。结论 cagA^ cagE^ 幽门螺杆菌显著增加了胃上皮细胞IL-8的分泌并且依赖于蛋白酪氨酸激酶的活性。     

Immunoelectron microscopic study of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive nerve fibers and ganglion cells in the rat adrenal gland

The present immunocytochemical study used an antiserum to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the first enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of catecholamines, and revealed TH immunoreactivity in the ganglion cells and in the varicose nerve fibers of the cortex and medulla in the rat adrenal gland. TH immunoreactive nerve fibers in the cortex and medulla contained large and small granular vesicles, and also small clear vesicles. The immunoreactive nerve fibers were in close apposition to cortical cells in the cortex and in apposition to smooth muscle cells of blood vessels in both the cortex and medulla. Furthermore, TH immunoreactive nerve fibers were sometimes in close apposition to pericytes of blood vessels in the cortex and chromaffin cells in the medulla. The present results suggest that the catecholaminergic nerve fibers in the rat adrenal gland may be both intrinsic and extrinsic in origin.     

HLA class-II-mediated homotypic aggregation: involvement of a protein tyrosine kinase and protein kinase C.

Homotypic aggregation of B-lymphocytes, B-cell lines and class-II-positive T cells via HLA class II molecules was examined. Signaling via DR antigens induced rapid aggregation in a dose- and time-dependent manner, maximum and stable aggregation was induced within 20 minutes. On the contrary, rapid signaling via DP or DQ required prestimulation with either PMA or anti-sIg. Aggregation was temperature and energy dependent. [Ca2+] and [Mg2+] concentrations and an intact cytoskeleton were required while neither mRNA or protein synthesis were required. Furthermore, FACS analysis revealed that aggregation was not directly correlated with cell surface expression of HLA class II molecules. Our results demonstrate that aggregation was mediated through a protein tyrosine kinase (PTK)-dependent pathway that preceded activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and failure to generate either the PTK signal or the PKC signal prevented aggregation. The contribution of a tyrosine kinase was further demonstrated by the total inhibition of aggregation following treatment with an anti-CD45 mAb.     

Ret protein expression in adrenal medullary hyperplasia and pheochromocytoma

Ret is a developmentally regulated tyrosine kinase involved in formation and maintenance of the nervous system. Ret mutations predisposing to pheochromocytomas and medullary thyroid carcinomas occur in multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) syndromes 2A and 2B. Biochemical studies have demonstrated overexpression of Ret mRNA and protein in pheochromocytomas compared to normal adrenal medulla. However, the cellular distribution of Ret in the normal human adrenal and in hyperplastic lesions that antecede pheochromocytomas are unclear. The present investigation was undertaken to resolve the histological distribution of Ret in the normal human adrenal, in pheochromocytomas evolving from adrenal medullary hyperplasia in MEN2A and in sporadic pheochromocytomas. Ret expression was studied by immunohistochemistry using both a polyclonal and a monoclonal antibody, with confirmation by immunoblotting of representative cases. Only occasional cells stained for Ret in the normal adrenal, consistent with the distribution in adult adrenals of other species. Heterogeneous, progressively increased Ret expression was observed during the evolution of pheochromocytomas. In both normal and neoplastic adrenal, the most intense immunoreactivity was observed in cells with neuron-like features. Our finding that Ret is not expressed at high levels in the early stages of disease suggests that elucidation of mechanisms that regulate Ret expression is required for understanding the pathobiology of MEN2A. The association of high-level Ret expression with neuronal morphology suggests that the variable overexpression of Ret in pheochromocytomas might in part be an epiphenomenon, reflecting the known phenotypic plasticity of these tumors.     

Cholecystokinin-stimulated insulin secretion and protein kinase C in rat pancreatic islets

In isolated rat pancreatic islets, the possible involvement of protein kinase C in cholecystokinin-8-stimulated insulin secretion was investigated. In islets exposed for 24 hours to the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (500 nmol l-1), a procedure known to down-regulate islet protein kinase C-activity, the insulinotropic effect of cholecystokinin-8 (10(-7) mol l-1) was partially reduced (by 34 +/- 8%, P less than 0.001). In contrast the insulinotropic response to acute exposure to 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (10(-6) mol l-1) was totally abolished (P less than 0.001), whereas the insulin response to glucose (8.3 mmol l-1) was not affected. In normal islets, the protein kinase C-inhibitor, staurosporine, inhibited 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate- and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (P less than 0.01), but was without effect on cholecystokinin-8-stimulated insulin release. Furthermore, in normal islets, cholecystokinin-8 had no effect on insulin release at a low glucose level (3.3 mmol l-1). However, at this low glucose level, cholecystokinin-8 clearly potentiated insulin release induced by acute exposure to 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol 13-acetate (10(-8) -10(-6) mol l-1, P less than 0.001). This potentiating effect was abolished by the removal of extracellular Ca2+. It is concluded that the insulinotropic effect of cholecystokinin-8 in rat islets is partially mediated by the protein kinase C pathway. Furthermore, the lack of effect of cholecystokinin-8 on insulin secretion at a low glucose level might be explained by an insufficient activation of protein kinase C under these conditions.     

Differential effects of protein kinase C activation on catecholamine secretions evoked by stimulations of various receptors in the rat adrenal medulla.

Catecholamine secretions during continuous receptor stimulations by histamine, muscarine and bradykinin in the rat adrenal medulla commonly consisted of two phases, a transient initial secretion followed by a sustained secretion. On activating protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu), both phases of histamine-evoked secretion were inhibited whereas the initial phase alone was inhibited with muscarine. In contrast, bradykinin-evoked secretion as a whole was potentiated. Similar modes of modulations were exhibited when the secretions with these agonists were elicited in muscarine- or bradykinin-pretreated medullae in which PKC had been activated by endogenous processes. It is suggested that PKC may selectively affect the receptors or/and GTP-binding proteins to cause the differential effects on the secretory response in the rat adrenal medulla.     

EGF-stimulated aldosterone secretion is mediated by tyrosine phosphorylation but not by phospholipase C in cultured porcine adrenal glomerulosa cells.

We examined the effect of EGF and angiotensin II (AII) on the formation of inositol phosphates and aldosterone secretion, and observed the role of tyrosine phosphorylation in EGF or AII-mediated aldosterone secretion. As cultured glomerulosa cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of EGF (0.01-100 ng/mL), aldosterone secretion increased and reached a plateau at EGF concentration of 10-50 ng/mL. Although EGF alone did increase aldosterone secretion in glomerulosa cells, it did not enhance AII-induced aldosterone secretion when both EGF and AII were added. EGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation peaked at around 1 min after stimulation and at a concentration of 10-50 ng/mL. AII stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation, but the stimulatory effect was less than that observed in the presence of EGF. Although the latter induced tyrosine phosphorylation of various proteins, it failed to stimulate the formation of inositol phosphates. On the other hand, AII stimulated the production of inositol phosphates in a dose-dependent manner, with maximal stimulation at 10(-8)M. The addition of 10 ng/mL EGF did not affect the AII-induced formation of inositol phosphates. In conclusion, EGF-stimulated aldosterone secretion might be mediated by tyrosine kinase. However, since EGF did not stimulate inositol phospholipid hydrolysis in cultured porcine adrenal glomerulosa cells, its effect does not seem to be mediated by phospholipase C.     

Immunoelectron microscopic study of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive nerve fibers and ganglion cells in the rat adrenal gland.

The present immunocytochemical study used an antiserum to tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the first enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of catecholamines, and revealed TH immunoreactivity in the ganglion cells and in the varicose nerve fibers of the cortex and medulla in the rat adrenal gland. TH immunoreactive nerve fibers in the cortex and medulla contained large and small granular vesicles, and also small clear vesicles. The immunoreactive nerve fibers were in close apposition to cortical cells in the cortex and in apposition to smooth muscle cells of blood vessels in both the cortex and medulla. Furthermore, TH immunoreactive nerve fibers were sometimes in close apposition to pericytes of blood vessels in the cortex and chromaffin cells in the medulla. The present results suggest that the catecholaminergic nerve fibers in the rat adrenal gland may be both intrinsic and extrinsic in origin.     

Cystatin C induces apoptosis and tyrosine hydroxylase gene expression through JNK-dependent pathway in neuronal cells

Cystatin C (CysC), an endogenous cysteine protease inhibitor, has been implicated in the apoptosis and differentiation processes of neuronal cells. In this study, we have investigated the pathway involved in the process. A human neuronal hybridoma cell line (A1 cell) was treated with CysC in both undifferentiated and retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiated conditions, which decreased overall process length in both conditions. Also, CysC increased apoptotic cell number time-dependently, as revealed by TUNEL assay. Western blot analysis demonstrated that in differentiated A1 cells, CysC treatment decreased Bcl-2 and increased active caspase-9 protein level time-dependently. Immunocytochemistry results revealed that, CysC treatment significantly increased active form of Bax expressing cell number, which co-localized with mitochondria. Mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibition experiments showed that Bax mRNA induction and Bcl-2 mRNA inhibition by CysC treatment were c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-dependent. After RA-induced differentiation, choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and neurofilament (NF) mRNA levels were increased in A1 cells. CysC treatment inhibited NF mRNA level in both undifferentiated and RA-differentiated, and increased TH mRNA in differentiated A1 neurons. Analysis of signal transduction pathway demonstrated that TH gene induction was also JNK-dependent. Thus, our results demonstrated the significance of JNK-dependent pathways on CysC-induced apoptosis and TH gene expression in neuronal cells, which might be an important target in the management of CysC dependent neurodegenerative processes.