EFFECTS OF 1,25-DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D-3 ON GROWTH OF MOUSE NEUROBLASTOMA-CELLS

Epitopes of the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)(2)D-3) receptor have been shown in developing dorsal root ganglia in fetal mice, as well a s in cells maintained in culture [Johnson, J.A., Grande, J.P., Windeba nk, A.J. and Kumar, R., 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D-3 receptors in develop ing dorsal root ganglia of fetal rats, Dev. Brain Res., 92 (1996) 120- 124]. To investigate a possible role for 1,25(OH)(2)D-3 in neural cell growth and development, a murine neuroblastoma cell line that express es 1,25(OH)(2)D-3 receptors, was treated with 1,25(OH)(2)D-3. Treatmen t with 1,25(OH)(2)D-3 resulted in a decrease in cell proliferation, a change in cell morphology, and the expression of protein markers of ma ture neuronal cells. The decrease in cell proliferation was accompanie d by an increase in the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF). Anti- NGF monoclonal antibody added to the growth medium blocked the decreas e in cell proliferation caused by 1,25(OH)(2)D-3 treatment. Our result s show that the sterol hormone 1,25(OH)(2)D-3, causes a decrease in th e proliferation of mouse neuroblastoma cells through alterations in th e expression of NGF.