EFFECTS OF ANDROGEN RECEPTOR POLYGLUTAMINE TRACT EXPANSION ON PROLIFERATION OF NG108-15 CELLS

Expansion of the polyglutamine tracts in the androgen receptor (AR) ha s been recognized as a cause of X-linked spinal and bulbar muscular at rophy (SBMA). In the present study, NG108-15 cells were stably transfe cted with expression vectors coding for either the wild type (WI) AR g ene (GAG repeat number=22) or a mutated (MT) AR gene (GAG repeat numbe r=52). Cells proliferation and cell cycle parameters were evaluated fo r NG108-15-WT and NG108-15-MT cells in the presence or absence of andr ogen. NG108-15-WT cells demonstrated an androgen-dependent increase in cell number, while NG108-15-MT cells did not. Our results demonstrate that expansion of polyglutamine tracts in the AR may affect the proli feration and differentiation of nerve cells. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.