title: BBC3 mediates fenretinide-induced cell death in neuroblastoma.
abstract: Fenretinide (4-HPR) is a synthetic retinoid whose apoptosis-inducing effects have been demonstrated in many tumor types. The precise mechanism of its apoptotic action is not fully understood. To further study the mechanism by which 4-HPR exerts its biological effects in neuroblastoma (NB) and to identify the genes that contribute to the induction of apoptosis, we determined the sensitivity of eight NB cell lines to 4-HPR. Additionally, cDNA microarray analysis was performed on a 4-HPR-sensitive cell line to investigate the temporal changes in gene expression, primarily focusing on the induction of proapoptotic genes. BBC3, a transcriptionally regulated proapoptotic member of the BCL2 family, was the most highly induced proapoptotic gene. Western analysis confirmed the induction of BBC3 protein by 4-HPR. Furthermore, the induction of BBC3 was associated with the sensitivity to this agent in the cell lines tested. Finally we demonstrated that BBC3 alone is sufficient to induce cell death in the 4-HPR-sensitive and resistant NB cell lines, and that siRNA against BBC3 significantly decreases apoptosis induced by 4-HPR. Our results indicate that BBC3 mediates cell death in NB cells in response to 4-HPR.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, 8717 Grovemont Circle, Bethesda, MD 20892-4605, USA.
authors.forename: Jun S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Craig C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Whiteford
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cenacchi
authors.forename: Chang Gue
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Javed
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003124:Colorimetry; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D017313:Fenretinide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; C438378:BBC3 protein, human; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D017313:Fenretinide