Signal pathway involved in increased expression of neutral endopeptidase 24.11 by gonadotropin releasing hormone in choriocarcinoma cells

Neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP) is known to regulate cellular functions by degrading several bioactive peptides, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). The present study was performed to clarify the mechanisms of NEP expression by GnRH in human choriocarcinoma (BeWo) cells. GnRH increased NEP expression and enzyme activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner in BeWo cells. The phosphorylation levels of protein kinase C (PKC) δ, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK1 and 2) were enhanced after 10 min exposure of 10^-6 M GnRH. The effect of GnRH on both NEP expression and enzyme activity was completely inhibited by inhibitors of PKC, PKC δ, and p38MAPK. Cell number was reduced by 54.4 per cent of the control by culture with 10^-6 M GnRH for 24 h. However, phosphoramidon, a NEP specific inhibitor, inhibited antiproliferative effect of GnRH and reverted to the control level. In conclusion, GnRH induces NEP expression by PKC δ and p38MAPK, and increased NEP expression may be involved in antiproliferative effect in BeWo cells.