TY - JOUR
T1 - Direct evidence for an adhesive function in the noncholinergic role of acetylcholinesterase in neurite outgrowth
AU - Sharma, Karun V.
AU - Koenigsberger, Carol
AU - Brimijoin, Stephen
AU - Bigbee, John W.
PY - 2001/1/15
Y1 - 2001/1/15
N2 - Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) can promote neurite outgrowth through a mechanism that is independent of its role in hydrolyzing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. It has been proposed that this neuritogenic capacity of AChE may result from its intrinsic capacity to function in adhesion. In this study we directly tested this hypothesis using neuroblastoma cell lines that have been engineered for altered cell-surface expression of AChE. Using a microtiter-plate adhesion assay and the electrical cell-substrate impedance-sensing (ECIS) method, we demonstrate that the level of cell-substratum adhesion of these cells directly correlates with their level of AChE expression. Furthermore, this adhesion is blocked by either an anti-AChE antibody or a highly specific AChE inhibitor (BW284c51), both of which have also been shown to block neurite outgrowth. In addition, cells that overexpress AChE showed enhanced neurite initiation. By employing cell lines with different levels of AChE expression in two types of cell-substratum adhesion assays, our current studies provide evidence for an adhesive function for AChE. These results, together with the fact that AChE shares sequence homology and structural similarities with several known cell adhesion molecules, support the hypothesis that AChE promotes neurite outgrowth, at least in part, through an adhesive function.
AB - Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) can promote neurite outgrowth through a mechanism that is independent of its role in hydrolyzing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. It has been proposed that this neuritogenic capacity of AChE may result from its intrinsic capacity to function in adhesion. In this study we directly tested this hypothesis using neuroblastoma cell lines that have been engineered for altered cell-surface expression of AChE. Using a microtiter-plate adhesion assay and the electrical cell-substrate impedance-sensing (ECIS) method, we demonstrate that the level of cell-substratum adhesion of these cells directly correlates with their level of AChE expression. Furthermore, this adhesion is blocked by either an anti-AChE antibody or a highly specific AChE inhibitor (BW284c51), both of which have also been shown to block neurite outgrowth. In addition, cells that overexpress AChE showed enhanced neurite initiation. By employing cell lines with different levels of AChE expression in two types of cell-substratum adhesion assays, our current studies provide evidence for an adhesive function for AChE. These results, together with the fact that AChE shares sequence homology and structural similarities with several known cell adhesion molecules, support the hypothesis that AChE promotes neurite outgrowth, at least in part, through an adhesive function.
KW - Acetylcholinesterase
KW - Cell adhesion
KW - Neurite outgrowth
KW - Neuroblastoma cells
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U2 - 10.1002/1097-4547(20010115)63:2<165::AID-JNR1008>3.0.CO;2-O
DO - 10.1002/1097-4547(20010115)63:2<165::AID-JNR1008>3.0.CO;2-O
M3 - Article
C2 - 11169626
AN - SCOPUS:0035863556
SN - 0360-4012
VL - 63
SP - 165
EP - 175
JO - Journal of Neuroscience Research
JF - Journal of Neuroscience Research
IS - 2
ER -