Ascorbic acid upregulates myelin gene expression in C6 glioma cells

Abstract

The effect of ascorbic acid (AA) on rat glioma C6 cells was studied. At physiological AA concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mM, no morphological and no proliferative alterations in the C6 cultures were detectable. Although the total RNA content per cell was not affected by the AA-treatment, AA upregulated the expression of myelin-specific genes, i.e. proteolipid protein (PLP) and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) genes as assessed by northern blot analysis. The steady-state level of the specific mRNAs increased transiently in the AA-treated cells. Three days after AA administration the message level reached a maximum of 10- and 2-fold over control for the PLP and MAG genes, respectively. The upregulation of the genes was directly related to AA concentration. The present data indicate a possible involvement of AA in the regulation of myelin gene activity in the CNS.