Early gene regulation by nerve growth factor in PC12 cells: induction of an interferon-related gene.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) induces the chromaffin cell line PC12 to differentiate into cells with many of the properties of sympathetic neurons. We investigated the early differentiative phase and identified a gene, PC4, rapidly and transiently induced by NGF in PC12 cells. PC4 cDNA is homologous to the partial sequence of a putative mouse beta-interferon and encodes a protein related to a lymphokine, the rat gamma-interferon protein. Nonetheless, PC4 appears devoid of antiviral activity. PC4 is expressed in proliferating and differentiating tissues, such as amnion, placenta, and brain at embryonic day 13.5. The relationship of PC4 to interferons and lymphokines suggests that it could play a role in regulating gene activity in the pathways induced by NGF.