MONOAMINE-OXIDASE GENE-TRANSCRIPTION IN HUMAN CELL-LINES - TREATMENT WITH PSYCHOACTIVE-DRUGS AND ETHANOL

In the present study transcriptional activities has been measured with different fragments of the 5'-flanking sequence of the human monoamin e oxidase (MAO) genes linked to human growth hormone which was used as a reporter gene. SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and 1242 MG glioma cells were compared under basal conditions as well as after treatments with different drugs. Under basal conditions, the relative reporter activi ties of the different promoter fragments were similar for both cell li nes. No changes in promoter activities, were observed when cells were treated with L-deprenyl, lithium chloride or raclopride. In contrast, increases (2-3-fold) in both reporter gene expression and enzyme activ ity were observed after ethanol treatment of cells transfected with MA O-B fragments. Gel retardation analysis showed that ethanol caused cha nges in transcription factor binding to the MAO-B core promoter in bot h the SH-SY5Y and 1242 MG cell lines in a cell-type specific fashion.