Background
Neurotrophic activity constitutes a crucial factor in the recovery from neurological injuries and is impaired in neurodegenerative disorders. Preclinical studies of neurotrophic factors to improve outcome of neurodegenerative diseases have yielded promising
Conclusions
This work describes the development of an EGFP-NF-L reporter PC12 cell-based assay as a robust and reproducible tool for "high throughput" compound screening for neurotrophic activity.
Methods
It was already shown that NF-L expression correlates with neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. Currently, quantification of neurite outgrowth is the most commonly used method to evaluate neuronal differentiation in PC12 cells, an approach that is time-consuming and of high variability. Conclusions: This work describes the development of an EGFP-NF-L reporter PC12 cell-based assay as a robust and reproducible tool for "high throughput" compound screening for neurotrophic activity.
Results
Using Cerebrolysin® as a role model for a pharmacological compound that stimulates neurotrophic activity in the central nervous system, the Neurofilament-L Bioassay was proved to be a robust, specific, and reproducible method. Comparison with existing methods: It was already shown that NF-L expression correlates with neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. Currently, quantification of neurite outgrowth is the most commonly used method to evaluate neuronal differentiation in PC12 cells, an approach that is time-consuming and of high variability. Conclusions: This work describes the development of an EGFP-NF-L reporter PC12 cell-based assay as a robust and reproducible tool for "high throughput" compound screening for neurotrophic activity.