Abstract
We previously used microarrays to show that high expression of DHRS3, NROB1, and CYP26A1 predicts favorable NB outcomes. Here, we investigated whether expression of these genes was associated with suppression of NB cell (SK-N-SH, NB12, and TGW) growth. We assessed morphology and performed growth, colony-formation, and migration assays, as well as RNA sequencing. The effects of the transient expression of these genes were also assessed with a tetracycline-controlled expression (Tet-On) system. Gene overexpression reduced cell growth and induced morphological senescence. Gene-expression analysis identified pathways involving cellular senescence and cell adhesion. In these cells, transduced gene dropout occurred during passage, making long-term stable gene transfer difficult. Tet-On-induced gene expression caused more pronounced cell-morphology changes. Specifically, DHRS3 and NROB1 led to rapid inhibition and arrest of cell growth, though CYP26A1 did not affect cell-growth rate or cell cycle. DHRS3 arrested the cell cycle by interacting with the all-trans-retinol pathway and drove differentiation and senescence in tumors. Overexpression of these genes reduced the malignant grade of these cells. A new therapeutic strategy might be the induction of these genes, as they suppress the growth of high-risk neuroblastoma and lead to differentiation and senescence.