Turkish Journal of Geriatrics 2006 , Vol 9, Issue 1
ERYTHROPOIETIN DECREASES APOPTOSIS INDUCED BY 6-HYDROXYDOPAMINE IN PC12 CELLS
1Learning Resources Center Research Laboratory Dokuz Eylul University, İZMİR
2Department of Medical Biology and Genetics School of Medicine Dokuz Eylul University, İZMİR
3Department of Hematology School of Medicine Dokuz Eylul University, İZMİR
Aim: In the present study, we investigated whether Erythropoietin (Epo) has a protective effect against cytotoxicity and apoptotic cell death induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in PC12 cell line cultures.

Material and Methods: Epo exerted significant protective effect against 6-OHDAinduced cell injury and apoptosis as confirmed by lactate dehydrogenase cytotoxicity assay, anti-single strand DNA immunostaining and annexin-V staining.

Results: Epo significantly decreased 6-OHDA-induced DP5 pro-apoptotic protein mRNA expression and increased bcl-XL anti-apoptotic protein mRNA expression. Any effect of Epo on CREB transcription factor phosphorylation was not observed.

Conclusion: These results suggest that Epo exerts neuroprotective effect against 6-OHDA-induced cell death at least partially via the differential regulation of the expression of genes involved in the apoptotic process. Keywords : Erythropoietin; Apoptosis; PC12 cell line; 6-hydroxydopamine; DP5; CREB; Parkinson's disease