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, Ä°ZMÄ°R
2Department of Medical Biology and Genetics School of Medicine Dokuz Eylul University, Ä°ZMÄ°R
3Department of Hematology School of Medicine Dokuz Eylul University, Ä°ZMÄ°R 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