P75 neurotrophin receptor is sequestered in the Golgi apparatus of the U-87 MG human glioblastoma cell line

The P75 neurotrophin receptor (p75(NTR)) is a cell surface receptor that can induce apoptosis in many cell types. This receptor plays a major role in the development of the central nervous system and is expressed in some adult brain cells. Its implication in cell apoptosis or survival is probably of major importance in cellular homeostasis and thus p75(NTR) could be implicated in tumor resistance to death. In this study, we investigated the intracellular expression of p75(NTR) in a human glioblastoma cell line. Detection of p75(NTR) receptor in Golgi apparatus by immunofluorescence microscopy, or after Golgi apparatus extraction, could be correlated with a decrease of cell apoptosis leading cells to become tumorous. This hypothesis is supported by a loss of ligand-induced apoptosis in this cell line. Our observations show that p75(NTR) can be sequestered in the Golgi complex and could then be, in part, responsible for the cell resistance to apoptosis and for brain tumor formation.