Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0027819 (neuroblastoma)
 27,800 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is expressed in most cancer cells. Paradoxically, its promoter is embedded in a hypermethylated CpG island. A short region escapes to this alteration, allowing a basal level of transcription. However, the methylation of adjacent regions may play a role in the maintenance of low hTERT expression. It is now well established that methyl-CpG binding domain proteins mediate the transcriptional silencing of hypermethylated genes. The potential involvement of these proteins in the control of hTERT expression was firstly investigated in HeLa cells. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that only methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2 (MBD2) associated the hypermethylated hTERT promoter. In MBD2 knockdown HeLa cells, constitutively depleted in MBD2, neither methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) nor MBD1 acted as substitutes for MBD2. MBD2 depletion by transient or constitutive RNA interference led to an upregulation of hTERT transcription that can be downregulated by expressing mouse Mbd2 protein. Our results indicate that MBD2 is specifically and directly involved in the transcriptional repression of hTERT in HeLa cells. This specific transcriptional repression was also observed in breast, liver and neuroblastoma cancer cell lines. Thus, MBD2 seems to be a general repressor of hTERT in hTERT-methylated telomerase-positive cells.
Carcinogenesis 2009 Jan
PMID:Specific association between the methyl-CpG-binding domain protein 2 and the hypermethylated region of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter in cancer cells. 1895 93

One of the most notorious environmental toxicants, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), easily accumulates in the environment and most organisms, including humans, because of its high lipophilicity and resistance to degradation. TCDD exposure causes a variety of adverse health effects in humans including immunotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and carcinogenesis. For the most part, studies regarding the adverse effects of TCDD on the central nervous system (CNS) have been limited to neurodevelopmental processes. In this study, we investigated the neurotoxicity of TCDD in neuronal cells using a neuroblastoma cell line (clone N2a) and explored the possible mechanisms of action. MTT and Comet assays were conducted to determine if TCDD is cytotoxic and if it causes DNA damage, respectively. The results of these assays revealed that treatment with 100, 300, 500 and 1000 nM TCDD decreased the viability of N2a cells and increased DNA damage in a dose-dependent manner compared to controls. Additionally, a malondialdehyde (MDA) assay was performed to determine if TCDD induces lipid peroxidation. The results of this assay revealed that 100, 300 and 500 nM TCDD induced lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, TCDD neurotoxicity (300 nM or higher) in N2a cells was accompanied by elevated intracellular calcium levels. These increased calcium levels increased the phosphorylation of tau via up-regulation of phospho-glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta). Taken together, these results indicate that TCDD exposure induces neurotoxicity in N2a cells by increasing DNA damage, oxidative stress and intracellular calcium levels. The TCDD-mediated increase of tau phosphorylation in particular indicates an important role for tau hyperphosphorylation in TCDD-induced neurotoxicity.
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PMID:2,3,7,8-TCDD neurotoxicity in neuroblastoma cells is caused by increased oxidative stress, intracellular calcium levels, and tau phosphorylation. 1899 33

To investigate the alteration of nuclear matrix proteins (NMPs) during the differentiation of neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells induced by retinoic acid (RA), differentiation markers were detected by immunocytochemistry and NMPs were selectively extracted and subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analysis. Immunocytochemical observation demonstrated that the expression of neuronal markers was up-regulated in SK-N-SH cells following RA treatment. Meanwhile, 52 NMPs (41 of which were identified) changed significantly during SK-N-SH differentiation; four of these NMPs were further confirmed by immunoblotting. This study suggests that the differentiation of neuroblastoma cells was accompanied by the altered expression of neuronal markers and NMPs. The presence of some differentially expressed NMPs was related to the proliferation and differentiation of neuroblastomas. Our results may help to reveal the relationship between NMPs and neuroblastoma carcinogenesis and reversion, as well as elucidate the regulatory principals driving neural cell proliferation and differentiation.
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PMID:Differential expression of nuclear matrix proteins during the differentiation of human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells induced by retinoic acid. 1916 Apr 9

Mutational changes coupled with endocrine, paracrine, and/or autocrine signals regulate cell division during carcinogenesis. The hormone signals remain undefined, although the absolute requirement in vitro for fetal serum indicates the necessity for a fetal serum factor(s) in cell proliferation. Using prostatic cancer cell (PCC) lines as a model of cancer cell proliferation, we have identified the fetal serum component activin A and its signaling through the activin receptor type II (ActRII), as necessary, although not sufficient, for PCC proliferation. Activin A induced Smad2 phosphorylation and PCC proliferation, but only in the presence of fetal bovine serum (FBS). Conversely, activin A antibodies and inhibin A suppressed FBS-induced PCC proliferation confirming activin A as one of multiple serum components required for PCC proliferation. Basic fibroblast growth factor was subsequently shown to synergize activin A-induced PCC proliferation. Inhibition of ActRII signaling using a blocking antibody or antisense-P decreased mature ActRII expression, Smad2 phosphorylation, and the apparent viability of PCCs and neuroblastoma cells grown in FBS. Suppression of ActRII signaling in PCC and neuroblastoma cells did not induce apoptosis as indicated by the ratio of active/inactive caspase 3 but did correlate with increased cell detachment and ADAM-15 expression, a disintegrin whose expression is strongly correlated with prostatic metastasis. These findings indicate that ActRII signaling is required for PCC and neuroblastoma cell viability, with ActRII mediating cell fate via the regulation of cell adhesion. That ActRII signaling governs both cell viability and cell adhesion has important implications for developing therapeutic strategies to regulate cancer growth and metastasis.
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PMID:Activin receptor signaling regulates prostatic epithelial cell adhesion and viability. 1930 91

We and others previously cloned and characterized vertebrate WNT11 orthologs, which are involved in gastrulation, neurulation, cardiogenesis, nephrogenesis, and chondrogenesis during fetal development. WNT11 orthologs activate both canonical and non-canonical WNT signaling cascades depending on the expression profile of WNT receptors, such as Frizzled family members, LRP6, ROR2, and RYK. Human WNT11 is expressed in breast cancer, gastric cancer, esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, neuroblastoma, Ewing sarcoma, and prostate cancer. Canonical WNT signals and GATA family members are involved in WNT11 transcription during embryogenesis of model animals; however, precise mechanisms of WNT11 expression remain unclear. Here, refined integrative genomic analyses of WNT11 are carried out to elucidate the mechanisms of WNT11 transcription. The WNT11 gene was found to encode two isoforms by using alternative first exons. WNT11 isoform A (NM_004626.2 RefSeq) consists of exons 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, whereas WNT11 isoform B consists of exons 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. We identified double TCF/LEF-binding sites within the proximal promoter regions -48-bp position from the TSS of human WNT11 isoform B and -43-bp position from the TSS of human WNT11 isoform A), and also double GATA-binding sites within intron 2 of human WNT11 gene (+933-bp and +5001-bp positions from TSS of human WNT11 isoform A). Double TCF/LEF- and double GATA-binding sites within the regulatory regions of human WNT11 gene were conserved in other mammalian WNT11 orthologs. These facts indicate that canonical WNT signals and GATA family members directly upregulate WNT11 transcription. Canonical WNT-induced WNT11 activates non-canonical WNT signaling cascades to induce cellular movement, and also activates the Ca2+-MAP3K7-NLK signaling cascade to break the canonical WNT signaling. Canonical WNT-to-WNT11 signaling loop is involved in cellular migration during embryogenesis as well as tumor invasion during carcinogenesis.
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PMID:Integrative genomic analyses of WNT11: transcriptional mechanisms based on canonical WNT signals and GATA transcription factors signaling. 1957 97

The purpose of this study was to screen for genes involved in ovarian carcinogenesis in an attempt to develop an effective molecular-targeted therapy for ovarian cancer. We constructed retroviral expression libraries for the human ovarian cancer cell lines SHIN-3 and TYK-CPr, and performed a focus formation assay with 3T3 cells. As a result, proteasome subunit beta-type 2 (PSMB2), ubiquitin-specific protease 14 (USP14), and keratin 8 (KRT8) were identified from SHIN-3, and polymerase II RNA subunit (POLR2E), chaperonin containing T-complex polypeptide 1 subunit 4 (CCT4), glia maturation factor beta (GMFB), and neuroblastoma ras viral oncogene homolog (NRAS) from TYK-CPr. NRAS gene analysis revealed a CAA --> AAA substitution at codon 61, resulting in a Glu --> Lys change at position 61. When the mutant NRAS was introduced into fibroblasts for its expression, many transformed foci were generated, confirming the transforming ability of the mutant NRAS.
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PMID:Screening for genetic abnormalities involved in ovarian carcinogenesis using retroviral expression libraries. 1978 49

High expression of LMO3 contributes to the development and aggressiveness of neuroblastoma. LMO3 belongs to the LIM-only protein family, in which de-regulation of its members is implicated in human carcinogenesis. However, the molecular mechanism of LMO3 activity in oncogenesis remained poorly characterized. We found that LMO3 is a direct interacting partner of p53 both in vitro and in vivo. The DNA-binding domain of p53 is required for this interaction. Furthermore, expression of LMO3 repressed p53-dependent mRNA expression of its target genes by suppressing promoter activation. Interestingly, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that LMO3 facilitated p53 binding to its response elements. This suggests that LMO3 acts as a co-repressor of p53, suppressing p53-dependent transcriptional regulation without inhibition of its DNA-binding activity.
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PMID:LMO3 interacts with p53 and inhibits its transcriptional activity. 1999 58

Down-regulated in renal cell carcinoma 1 (DRR1) is mapped at 3p21.1, and is a candidate tumor suppressor gene. However, its biological roles have yet to be elucidated. Here, we developed polyclonal antibodies against DRR1 protein, and examined its expression during embryogenesis and carcinogenesis. The DRR1 protein was preferentially expressed in axonal projections of the central and peripheral nervous system of mice during embryonic days 10.5-16.5. Consistent with this expression pattern, the protein was detected in the neurites of primary cultured cortical neurons of rats at embryonic day 18.5. Survival of these cells was significantly inhibited by RNAi-induced downregulation of DRR1 expression. DRR1 was poorly expressed in established cancer cell lines, including neuroblastoma cells, whereas strong expression was observed in normal cells. A neuroblastoma model, MYCN transgenic mice, revealed that DRR1 protein was expressed in the celiac ganglion 2 weeks after birth when neuroblast hyperplasia was also observed; however, there was no longer any expression of DRR1 protein in tumors originating from the ganglion 8 weeks after birth. Together, our data indicate that DRR1 protein is expressed in normal cells, particularly in the nervous system during embryogenesis, is involved in neuronal cell survival, and is downregulated during neuroblastoma carcinogenesis.
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PMID:DRR1 is expressed in the developing nervous system and downregulated during neuroblastoma carcinogenesis. 2029 74

Partial gain of chromosome arm 17q is an abundant aberrancy in various cancer types such as lung and prostate cancer with a prominent occurrence and prognostic significance in neuroblastoma--one of the most common embryonic tumors. The specific genetic element/s in 17q responsible for the cancer-promoting effect of these aberrancies is yet to be defined although many genes located in 17q have been proposed to play a role in malignancy. We report here the characterization of a naturally-occurring, non-reciprocal translocation der(X)t(X;17) in human lung embryonal-derived cells following continuous culturing. This aberrancy was strongly correlated with an increased proliferative capacity and with an acquired ability to form colonies in vitro. The breakpoint region was mapped by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to the 17q24.3 locus. Further characterization by a custom-made comparative genome hybridization array (CGH) localized the breakpoint within the Bromodomain PHD finger Transcription Factor gene (BPTF), a gene involved in transcriptional regulation and chromatin remodeling. Interestingly, this translocation led to elevation in the mRNA levels of the endogenous BPTF. Knock-down of BPTF restricted proliferation suggesting a role for BPTF in promoting cellular growth. Furthermore, the BPTF chromosomal region was found to be amplified in various human tumors, especially in neuroblastomas and lung cancers in which 55% and 27% of the samples showed gain of 17q24.3, respectively. Additionally, 42% percent of the cancer cell lines comprising the NCI-60 had an abnormal BPTF locus copy number. We suggest that deregulation of BPTF resulting from the translocation may confer the cells with the observed cancer-promoting phenotype and that our cellular model can serve to establish causality between 17q aberrations and carcinogenesis.
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PMID:A novel translocation breakpoint within the BPTF gene is associated with a pre-malignant phenotype. 2030 Jan 78

Gap junction intercellular communication and cell-cell adhesion are essential for maintaining a normal cellular phenotype, including the control of growth and proliferation. Loss of either cell-cell adhesion or communication is common in cancers, while restoration of function is associated with tumor suppression. Protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes regulate a broad spectrum of cellular functions including growth and proliferation, and their overexpression has been correlated with carcinogenesis. Consequently, PKC inhibitors are currently undergoing clinical trials as an anti-cancer agents although the precise cellular alterations induced by PKC inhibitors remain to be elucidated. In the current study, the effects of PKC inhibitors on cell interactions were investigated using human neuroblastoma (IMR32, SKNMC, and SHSY-5Y) cell lines. An analysis of intercellular communication revealed an increase in gap junctional coupling with PKC inhibition. The observed increase in coupling was not associated with a change in Connexin 43 distribution or an alteration of phosphorylation status of the protein. There was also an increase in cell-cell adhesion with PKC inhibitor treatment as indicated by a cell aggregation assay. Therefore, the growth suppressive abilities of PKC inhibition on tumors may be due to the cancer suppressive effects of increased gap junction intercellular communication and cell-cell adhesion.
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PMID:PKC inhibition increases gap junction intercellular communication and cell adhesion in human neuroblastoma. 2033 69


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