Human neuroblastoma cell lines (SK-N-SH and SH-SY5Y) were stably transfected with the plasmid pEGFP-GRP-R to establish GRP-R overexpression cell lines, and the effects of GRP on PTEN gene and protein expression were determined.
Conversely, overexpression of GRP-R in less aggressive SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells resulted in soft agar colony formation, which was inhibited by a GRP-blocking antibody.
These findings provide evidence that a GRPR antagonist can stimulate the growth of cancer cells, and suggest that GRPR might interact with epigenetic mechanisms in regulating neuroblastoma cell growth.
Herein, we sought to characterize miRNA profile in GRP-R silenced neuroblastoma cells, and to determine the role of miRNAs on tumorigenicity and metastatic potential.