ATG5 expression induced by MDMA (ecstasy), interferes with neuronal differentiation of neuroblastoma cells

Mol Cells. 2009 May 31;27(5):571-5. doi: 10.1007/s10059-009-0075-2. Epub 2009 May 15.

Abstract

The amphetamine derivative 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) has become a popular recreational drug, and has also been shown to cause serotonergic neurotoxicity. This report shows that MDMA impairs brain development in a whole mouse embryo culture. The results of quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that autophagy-related protein 5 (Atg5) expression is elevated in mouse embryo and neuroblastoma cells after MDMA treatment. This elevated Atg5 expression interferes with the neuronal differentiation of neuroblastoma cells such as SH-SY5Y and PC12 cells. Thus, our results suggest that the use of MDMA during pregnancy may impair neuronal development via an induction of Atg5 expression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Autophagy / drug effects
  • Autophagy-Related Protein 5
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
  • Embryo Culture Techniques
  • Female
  • Fetal Development / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / genetics*
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins / metabolism*
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / pharmacology*
  • Neuroblastoma / metabolism
  • Neuroblastoma / pathology
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / pathology
  • PC12 Cells
  • Pregnancy
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Tretinoin / metabolism

Substances

  • ATG5 protein, human
  • Atg5 protein, mouse
  • Atg5 protein, rat
  • Autophagy-Related Protein 5
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Tretinoin
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine