title: Knockdown of astrocyte elevated gene-1 inhibits proliferation and enhancing chemo-sensitivity to cisplatin or doxorubicin in neuroblastoma cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) was originally characterized as a HIV-1-inducible gene in primary human fetal astrocyte. Recent studies highlight a potential role of AEG-1 in promoting tumor progression and metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate if AEG-1 serves as a potential therapeutic target of human neuroblastoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We employed RNA interference to reduce AEG-1 expression in human neuroblastoma cell lines and analyzed their phenotypic changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the knockdown of AEG-1 expression in human neuroblastoma cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation and apoptosis. The specific downregulation induced cell arrest in the G0/G1 phase of cell cycle. In the present study, we also observed a significant enhancement of chemo-sensitivity to cisplatin and doxorubicin by knockdown of AEG-1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that overexpressed AEG-1 enhance the tumorogenic properties of neuroblastoma cells. The inhibition of AEG-1 expression could be a new adjuvant therapy for neuroblastoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, PR China. liuhaiyan26@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Haiyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xianrang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Chunxi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Ruopeng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D048708:Cell Growth Processes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D016192:Resting Phase, Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; C483039:MTDH protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin