Murase K, Hattori A, Kohno M, Hayashi K
Department of Molecular Biology, Gifu Pharmaceutical University, Japan.
Biochem Mol Biol Int. 1993 Jul;30(4):615-21.
We examined the effect of coenzymes such as PQQ, pyrroloquinoline quinone; TOPA, 3-(2,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)-DL-alanine, and lipoic acid on nerve growth factor (NGF) synthesis in mouse astroglial cells, BALB c/3T3 cells, and WS-1 cells in culture. These coenzymes had a stimulating effect on NGF synthesis without causing cytotoxicity. Especially PQQ showed the strongest activity of promoting NGF synthesis in astroglial cells, whereas lipoic acid had the strongest effect on BALB c/3T3 cells. The activity may not due to the catechol ring or 1,4-benzoquinone ring, but due to the oxidative or reductive activity. These results suggest that these coenzymes may play a role in NGF synthesis and neuronal survival through the stimulating effect of the NGF synthesis in brain and such compounds are good candidates as NGF inducers.
