The main physiological function of MCPIP1 (regnase-1) is negative regulation of inflammation. Moreover, roles of regnase-1 in apoptosis and differentiation have also been described, but its involvement in cancer is yet to be fully recognized. Earlier, we showed a lack of expression of MCPIP1 in both primary tumors and several neuroblastoma cell lines. Additionally, we reported that levels of MCPIP1 and the key neuroblastoma oncoprotein-MYCN were inversely correlated in BE(2)-C clones overexpressing the MCPIP1 gene. Here, we show that exogenous expression of the MCPIP1 protein decreases MYCN mRNA and protein levels without changing the MYCN mRNA half-life. Furthermore, it was shown that MCPIP1-wt exogenous expression affects levels and phosphorylation of MYCN partners such as Aurora A (Thr288), CDC2 (Tyr15 and Thr161), GSK3β (Ser9), and key cellular components of Akt/mTOR signaling, which regulate MYCN stability and activation. In accordance with the obtained results, we found increased phosphorylation of MYCN protein at Thr58 that causes destabilization of the oncoprotein. Moreover, it is shown that exogenous expression of MCPIP1 does not cause apoptosis. Our data extend knowledge on roles of MCPIP1 in our model and link the protein to regulation of expression and stability of MYCN through decrease of signaling via Akt/mTOR pathway. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 1741-1755, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Neuroblastoma is the most common extra-cranial solid tumor of childhood and it is characterized by the presence of a glycosphingolipid, GD2 ganglioside. Monoclonal antibodies targeting the antigen are currently tested in clinical trials. Additionally, several research groups reported results revealing that ganglioside-specific antibodies can affect cellular signaling and cause direct cytotoxicity against tumor cells. To shed more light on gene expression signatures of tumor cells, we used microarrays to analyze changes of transcriptome in IMR-32 human neuroblastoma cell cultures treated with doxorubicin (DOX) or a mouse monoclonal antibody binding to GD2 ganglioside 14G2a (mAb) for 24 h. The obtained results highlight that disparate cellular pathways are regulated by doxorubicin and 14G2a. Next, we used RT-PCR to verify mRNA levels of selected DOX-responsive genes such as RPS27L, PPM1D, SESN1, CDKN1A, TNFSF10B, and 14G2a-responsive genes such as SVIL, JUN, RASSF6, TLX2, ID1. Then, we applied western blot and analyzed levels of RPS27L, PPM1D, sestrin 1 proteins after DOX-treatment. Additionally, we aimed to measure effects of doxorubicin and topotecan (TPT) and 14G2a on expression of a novel human NDUFAF2 gene encoding for mimitin protein (MYC-induced mitochondrial protein) and correlate it with expression of the MYCN gene. We showed that expression of both genes was concomitantly decreased in the 14G2a-treated IMR-32 cells after 24 h and 48 h. Our results extend knowledge on gene expression profiles after application of DOX and 14G2a in our model and reveal promising candidates for further research aimed at finding novel anti-neuroblastoma targets.

During their lifetime, plants need to adapt to a changing environment, including light and temperature. To understand how these factors influence plant growth, we investigated the physiological and antioxidant responses of two Arabidopsis accessions, Shahdara (Sha) from the Shahdara valley (Tajikistan, Central Asia) in a mountainous area and Lovvik-5 (Lov-5) from northern Sweden to different light and temperature conditions. These accessions originate from different latitudes and have different life strategies, both of which are known to be influenced by light and temperature. We showed that both accessions grew better in high-light and at a lower temperature (16°C) than in low light and at 23°C. Interestingly, Sha had a lower chlorophyll content but more efficient non-photochemical quenching than Lov-5. Sha, also showed a higher expression of vitamin E biosynthetic genes. We did not observe any difference in the antioxidant prenyllipid level under these conditions. Our results suggest that the mechanisms that keep the plastoquinone (PQ)-pool in more oxidized state could play a role in the adaptation of these accessions to their local climatic conditions.