α‑enolase and γ‑enolase expression in enriched S- and N-type SH-SY5Y cellsHorvat, Selena (Avtor) Zidar, Nace (Avtor) Kos, Janko (Avtor) Pišlar, Anja (Avtor) neuron-like cellsneuronal diferentiationSH-SY5Y cell phenotypesenolase isoformscathepsin X inhibitionEnolase is well-known for its role in glycolysis but also plays other roles in the central nervous system, including neuronal survival, differentiation, and axonal regeneration. Here, we investigated α- and γ-enolase expression patterns and their association with cathepsin X in distinct SH-SY5Y cell phenotypes. Enriched substrate-adherent S-type cells are characterized by large, flat morphology with extensive cytoplasm and higher expression of vimentin, while neuroblastic N-type are recognized by neurite extensions and higher expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and growth-associated protein-43. We demonstrated that γ-enolase expression was specific to N-type cells, whereas α-enolase expression was not phenotype-specific. Moreover, a shift from ubiquitously expressed α-enolase to neuron-specific γ-enolase was observed during the enrichment and differentiation. Additionally, cathepsin X exhibited higher proteolytic activity in S-type cells. Inhibition of cathepsin X with AMS36 promoted differentiated cell morphology and increased expression of the active form of γ-enolase. Furthermore, AMS36 altered the expression of vimentin and Bcl-2, indicating a regulatory role in neuronal differentiation. Furthermore, AMS36 activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in N-type cells and enhanced the association between γ-enolase and tyrosine receptor kinase in both, suggesting a link between cathepsin X/γ-enolase and the key signaling pathways of differentiation. Our findings underscore the multifaceted role of enolase isoforms in SH-SY5Y cell differentiation, with α-enolase and γ-enolase showing distinct expression patterns in S- and N-type cells. The expression and activity of cathepsin X in S-type cells, along with its regulatory impact on γ-enolase in N-type cells, highlight the importance of these proteins in neuronal differentiation.20252026-01-27 15:56:03Članek v reviji178431UDK: 577.152.34ISSN pri članku: 1559-1182DOI: 10.1007/s12035-025-04898-2COBISS_ID: 231412483sl