NGF activates NFAT via the MEK1/2 pathway in PC12 cells

Nerve growth factor (NGF) plays a key role in controlling growth, maintenance and survival of neurons as well as nociceptor development. Many of its critical actions are believed to be mediated by activation of corresponding transcription factors. Here I attempt to reveal signaling cascades that relay NGF stimulation to NFAT, a family of Ca2+/calcineurin-dependent transcription factors that are implicated in playing a pivotal role in neuronal development and survival, and pain sensation. With a luciferase gene reporter assay, it was confirmed that NGF can trigger NFAT-dependent gene expression in PC12 cells. Subsequent research with pharmacological tools uncovers that this effect was mediated by the TrkA-MEK1/2 pathway. Furthermore, it was determined that NFATc3 is the predominant isoform by calculating an absolute copy number of each NFAT isoform with quantitative PCR. Taken together, it is proposed that elucidating cellular connections linking NGF and NFAT may help reveal novel therapeutic targets, which can be exploited to devise innovative remedies for the treatment of NGF and NFAT-associated clinical disorders such as anomalous neuronal development and hyperalgesia.