ETHANOL EXPOSURE INCREASES EXPRESSION OF C-JUN AND JUND IN HUMAN NEUROBLASTOMA-CELLS

THE aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ethanol exposur e on the expression of fos and jun genes. Exposure of human neuroblast oma SH-SY5Y cells to ethanol for 2-4 days caused a dose-dependent incr ease in c-jun and junD mRNA levels, whereas mRNAs for c-fos, fosB and junB were not detectable in control or ethanol-treated cells. Four day s of ethanol exposure also enhanced the AP-1 binding activity. Experim ents with actinomycin D demonstrated that ethanol did not influence th e degradation of c-jun and junD mRNAs. These results demonstrate that long-term exposure to ethanol increases c-jun and junD expression. Thi s effect may be one of the mechanisms through which ethanol influences the gene regulatory system in neuronal cells.