Neuregulin-1 isoform induces mitogenesis, KCa and Ca2+ currents in PC12 cells. A comparison with sciatic nerve conditioned medium

Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) is an active component found in sciatic nerve conditioned medium (CM). NRG-1 is a growth and differentiation factor shown to have an effect on neuritogenesis and survival of neural cells. PC12 cells chronically treated with NRG-1 (β1 isoform) show an increase in proliferation under low-serum condition (2.5% fetal bovine serum and 1.25% horse serum) and serum deprivation, without visible morphological changes. NRG-1 and CM treatments of PC12 cells induced an increase of voltage-activated Ca2+ currents and large-conductance calcium-activated K+ currents (KCa). AG825, a specific inhibitor for erbB2 receptor, abolishes KCa current, though Ca2+ currents were not inhibited. These results showed that NRG-1 is capable of inducing functional changes but is not sufficient on its own to have an effect on cell morphology.