title: Loss of SS18-SSX1 inhibits viability and induces apoptosis in synovial sarcoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Most synovial sarcomas contain a chromosomal translocation t(X;18), which results in the formation of an oncoprotein SS18-SSX critical to the viability of synovial sarcoma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We (1) established and characterized three novel synovial sarcoma cell lines and asked (2) whether inhibition of SS18-SSX1 decreases cell viability in these cell lines; and (3) whether reduction in viability after SS18-SSX1 knockdown is caused by apoptosis. After identifying a specific posttranscriptional splice variant in our cell lines, we asked (4) whether this provides a survival benefit in synovial sarcoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cells lines were characterized. SS18-SSX1 knockdown was achieved using a shRNA system. Cell viability was assessed by WST-1 analysis and apoptosis examined by caspase-3 activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We confirmed the SS18-SSX1 translocation in all cell lines and identified a consistent splicing variant. We achieved successful knockdown of SS18-SSX1 and with this saw a significant reduction in cell viability. Decreased viability was a result of increased apoptosis. Reintroduction of the exon 8 sequence into cells reduced cell viability in all cell lines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirmed the presence of the SS18-SSX1 translocation in our cell lines and its importance in the survival of synovial sarcoma. We have also demonstrated that reduction in cell viability is related to an increase in apoptosis. In addition, we have identified a potential mediator of SS18-SSX function in exon 8.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SS18-SSX represents a tumor-specific target in synovial sarcoma. Exploitation of SS18-SSX and its protein partners will allow us to develop potent tumor-specific therapeutic agents.
authors.affiliation: MedStar Georgetown Orthopaedic Institute, 110 Irving Street, NW C-2173, Washington, DC, 20010, USA, Emily.E.Soni@Medstar.net.
authors.forename: Emily E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Carmody Soni
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schlottman
authors.forename: Hayriye V
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Erkizan
authors.forename: Aykut
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uren
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Toretsky
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D002648:Child; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013584:Sarcoma, Synovial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014178:Translocation, Genetic
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D015514:Oncogene Proteins, Fusion; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C093961:SS18 protein, human; C587877:SS18-SSX1 fusion protein; C116512:SYT-SSX fusion protein; C093962:synovial sarcoma X breakpoint proteins; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3