Marked effect of RhoA-specific shRNA-producing plasmids on neurite growth in PC12 cells

Neurosci Lett. 2008 Aug 1;440(2):170-5. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2008.05.045. Epub 2008 May 17.

Abstract

In order to promote neurite outgrowth, we constructed a plasmid producing RhoA-specific small hairpin RNA (shRNA) to block RhoA expression and tested its actions in PC12 cells. Our results show that the shRNA-mediated RNA interference (RNAi) successfully suppressed RhoA expression. As a consequence of RhoA knockdown, F-actin levels were significantly reduced and processes were markedly induced. These processes express two neurite markers, neurofilament and betaIII tubulin. This study demonstrates that plasmid-producing shRNA specific for RhoA can act as an effective tool to induce neurite outgrowth and further confirms the neurite growth-inhibitory role of RhoA. This shRNA may thus be a useful tool in promoting neurite outgrowth and could be applicable in neural repair after CNS injury.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / biosynthesis
  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Western
  • Neurites / physiology*
  • Neurofilament Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Neurofilament Proteins / metabolism
  • PC12 Cells
  • Plasmids / genetics*
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics*
  • Rats
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Tubulin / biosynthesis
  • Tubulin / metabolism
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / genetics*
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein / physiology

Substances

  • Actins
  • Neurofilament Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tubb3 protein, rat
  • Tubulin
  • rhoA GTP-Binding Protein