Overexpression of Bcl-2 attenuates MPP+, but not 6-ODHA, induced cell death in a dopaminergic neuronal cell line

Abstract

In order to investigate the role of Bcl-2 in dopaminergic cells, we established a dopaminergic neuronal cell line (MN9D) stably expressing human Bcl-2 (MN9D/Bcl-2) or neomycin (MN9D/Neo). Overexpression of Bcl-2 in MN9D cells attenuated cell death due to treatment of mitochondrial electron transport inhibitors includingN-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium, whereas it did not prevent cell death induced by reagents generating reactive oxygen species including 6-hydroxy-dopamine. Moreover, the rate of glucose uptake in MN9D/Bcl-2 was significantly lower than that in MN9D/Neo after MPP+treatment. Thus, Bcl-2 may counter aberrations in mitochondrial electron transfer processes by altering energy metabolism within the MN9D cells.

Keywords

• Bcl-2
• cell death
• dopamine
• MPP+
• 6-OHDA
• reactive oxygen species