The Wnt-1 proto-oncogene regulates MAP kinase activation by multiple growth factors in PC12 cells.

PC12/Wnt-1 cells display morphological changes in response to stimulation by select growth factors but do not respond to NGF. Furthermore, stimulation by EGF can induce neuronal differentiation in these cells but not in wild type cells. We have found that in these cells, compared to wild type PC12 cells, FGF and EGF stimulation of MAP kinase activity is enhanced, while NGF stimulation of MAP kinase in diminished. Finally, in cells expressing Wnt-1, the effect of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) on MAP kinase activation is reversed; cAMP stimulates MAP kinase in wild type PC12 cells but inhibits MAP kinase in PC12/Wnt-1 cells. These data suggest that Wnt-1 expression alters the specificity of growth factor signaling in neuronal cells.