Reduction of neuropathy target esterase does not affect neuronal differentiation, but moderate expression induces neuronal differentiation in human neuroblastoma (SK-N-SH) cell line

• Published in: Brain research. Molecular brain research. 2005-11, Vol.141 (1), p.30-38
• Main Authors: Chang, Ping-An, Chen, Rui, Wu, Yi-Jun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylcholinesterase - metabolism; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases - genetics; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases - metabolism; Cell Differentiation - drug effects; Cell Differentiation - physiology; Cell Line, Tumor; Cholinesterase Inhibitors - metabolism; Cholinesterase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Silencing; Human neuroblastoma cell; Humans; Isoflurophate - analogs & derivatives; Isoflurophate - metabolism; Isoflurophate - pharmacology; Neural differentiation; Neuroblastoma; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - drug effects; Neurons - physiology; Neuropathy target esterase; Organophosphate; Paraoxon - metabolism; Paraoxon - pharmacology; RNA Interference; Tretinoin - pharmacology; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0169-328X; 1872-6941
• DOI: 10.1016/j.molbrainres.2005.07.012

Neuropathy target esterase (NTE) is inhibited and aged by organophosphorus compounds that induce delayed neuropathy in human and some sensitive animals. NTE has been proposed to play a role in neurite outgrowth and process elongation during neurodifferentiation. However, to date, there is no direct evidence of the relevance of NTE in neurodifferentiation under physiological conditions. In this study, we have investigated a possible role for NTE in the all- trans retinoic acid-induced differentiation of neuroblastoma cells. The functional inactivation of NTE by RNA interference indicated that reduction of NTE does not affect process outgrowth or differentiation of the cells, although moderate expression of NTE by expression of the NTE esterase domain accelerates the elongation of neurite processes. Mipafox, a neurotoxic organophosphate, was shown to block process outgrowth and differentiation in cells that have lowered NTE activity due to RNA interference, suggesting that mipafox may interact with other molecules to exert its effect in this context.