Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a member of the neurotrophin family and is required for the survival and maintenance of peripheral sympathetic and sensory ganglia. In the CNS, NGF regulates cholinergic expression by basal forebrain cholinergic neurons. NGF also stimulates cellular resistance to oxidative stress in the PC12 cell line and protects PC12 cells from the toxic effects of reactive oxygen species. The hypothesis that NGF protection involves changes in antioxidant enzyme expression was tested by measuring its effects on catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH Px) mRNA expression in PC12 cells. NGF increased catalase and GSH Px mRNA levels in PC12 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. There was also a corresponding increase in the enzyme activities of catalase and GSH Px. Thus, NGF can provide cytoprotection to PC12 cells by inducing the free radical scavenging enzymes catalase and GSH Px.
Animals Catalase