title: Astrocyte elevated gene-1 contributes to the pathogenesis of neuroblastoma.
abstract: Neuroblastoma, derived from neural crest progenitor cells, is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood. Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1) is a primary mediator of tumor progression and metastasis in several human cancers. In this study, we investigated the potential contribution of AEG-1 in human neuroblastoma pathogenesis. AEG-1 expression was significantly elevated in neuroblastoma patient-derived samples and neuroblastoma cell lines as compared with normal peripheral nerve tissues, normal astrocytes and immortalized melanocytes. Knockdown of AEG-1 by small interfering RNA reduced the tumorigenic properties of highly aggressive neuroblastoma cells. Conversely, over-expression of AEG-1 enhanced proliferation and expression of the transformed state in less aggressive neuroblastoma cells through activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt-signaling pathway and stabilization of MYCN. These provocative results indicate that AEG-1 may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neuroblastoma and could represent a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298, USA. sglee@vcu.edu
authors.forename: S-G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: H-Y
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Z-Z
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vozhilla
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Maerken
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D005333:Fetus / Q000166:cytology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051379:Mice; D000071447:N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000071447:N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; C483039:MTDH protein, human; C459801:MYCN protein, human