Oncolytic adenovirus-mediated short hairpin RNA targeting MYCN gene induces apoptosis by upregulating RKIP in neuroblastoma

Tumour Biol. 2015 Aug;36(8):6037-43. doi: 10.1007/s13277-015-3280-y. Epub 2015 Mar 4.

Abstract

The amplification of MYCN is a typical characteristic of aggressive neuroblastomas, whereas acquired mutations of p53 lead to refractory and relapsed cases. We had previously examined the applicability of the replication-competent oncolytic adenovirus, ZD55-shMYCN, to deliver a short hairpin RNA targeting MYCN gene for p53-null and MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma cell line LA1-55N. Our data have shown that ZD55-shMYCN has an additive tumor growth inhibitory response through shRNA-mediated MYCN knockdown and ZD55-mediated cancer cell lysis. In this regard, ZD55-shMYCN can downregulate MYCN and perform anticancer effects, thereby acquiring significance in the administration of MYCN-amplified and p53-null neuroblastomas. Hence, we further investigated the anticancer properties of ZD55-shMYCN in neuroblastomas. Our data showed that ZD55-shMYCN induced G2/M arrest via decreasing the levels of cyclin D1 and cyclin B1 irrespective of p53 status. ZD55-shMYCN effectively induced apoptosis in neuroblastomas through activation of caspase-3 and enhancing PARP cleavage. Furthermore, ZD55-shMYCN could downregulate phosphoinositide 3-kinase and pAkt and upregulate RKIP levels. Similarly, pro-apoptosis was revealed by the histopathologic examination of paraffin-embedded section of resected tumors of mice xenograft. In vitro and in vivo studies, we elucidate the apoptosis properties and mechanisms of action of ZD55-shMYCN, which provide a promising approach for further clinical development.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein
  • Neuroblastoma / genetics*
  • Neuroblastoma / therapy
  • Neuroblastoma / virology
  • Nuclear Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics*
  • Oncogene Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Oncogene Proteins / genetics*
  • Oncolytic Virotherapy*
  • Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein / biosynthesis*
  • Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein / genetics
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / biosynthesis
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • MYCN protein, human
  • N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Oncogene Proteins
  • PEBP1 protein, human
  • Phosphatidylethanolamine Binding Protein
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases