G. Villuendas et al., Involvement of VIP on BDNF-induced somatostatin gene expression in cultured fetal rat cerebral cortical cells, MOL BRAIN R, 94(1-2), 2001, pp. 59-66
Previous studies have shown that BDNF promotes expression of SS. In earlier
studies we demonstrated the stimulatory effect of locally produced VIP upo
n SS secretion. These facts led us to explore the peptidergic action of BDN
F on VIP, and to determine if BDNF-induced SS might be mediated by the indu
ction of VIP. Cultured fetal rat cerebralcortical cells were incubated with
BDNF (50 ng/ml) and/or VIP (10(-11) M) for 2 and 5 days. In other experime
nts I-Gs from BDNF or VIP antisera were also added. BDNF increased VIP and
SS gene expression and peptide production. After 2 days of incubation with
both BDNF and VIP the induction of SS mRNA was similar to that obtained wit
h BDNF alone. However when the treatment was extended to 5 days the increas
e in SS mRNA was higher than that obtained with BDNF alone. This finding su
ggests the possibility that both factors acted synergistically. To define t
he potential role of VIP in the response of SS gene expression to BDNF, end
ogenous VIP was blocked with IgGs from VIP antiserum. Under these experimen
tal conditions BDNF-induced SS decreased. Our study provides the first evid
ence that BDNF up-regulates VIP gene expression and concentration of the pe
ptide. The involvement of VIP on BDNF-induced SS gene expression is also de
monstrated. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.