Genome-wide transcriptional response of MPP+-treated human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells to apomorphine

Abstract

Human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium (MPP+) have been utilized as a cell model for Parkinson’s disease (PD) because they mimic many aspects of the neuronal death observed in PD. Apomorphine hydrochloride (APO) is a non-selective dopamine (DA) agonist and has been used to treat patients with advanced PD showing no response to levodopa or other DA agonists. Besides its receptor-mediated action, APO functions as a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger with a neuro-protective effect. For the safe and successful use of APO in PD treatment, an understanding of the genomic response in PD patients to APO is essential. In this study, genome-wide transcriptional analysis with microarray technology was performed to identify the genes, ontology and pathways affected by the addition of APO to MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells. Our results indicate that the addition of APO to MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells may induce anaerobic glycolysis, which might enhance the survival of MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells showing inhibition of cellular energy (adenosine triphosphate) production via mitochondrial aerobic pathway.