Expression of TWEAK/Fn14 in neuroblastoma: Implications in tumorigenesis
Journal article, 2013

Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of cytokines, acts on responsive cells via binding to a cell surface receptor called Fn14. TWEAK binding to an Fn14 receptor or constitutive Fn14 overexpression has been shown to activate nuclear factor κB signaling which is important in tumorigenesis and cancer therapy resistance. In the present study, we demonstrate that TWEAK and Fn14 are expressed in neuroblastoma cell lines and primary tumors, and both are observed at increased levels in high-stage tumors. The treatment of neuroblastoma cell lines with recombinant TWEAK in vitro causes increased survival, and this effect is partially due to the activation of NF-κB signaling. Moreover, TWEAK induces the release of matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) in neuroblastoma cells, suggesting that TWEAK may play a role in the invasive phase of neuroblastoma tumorigenesis. TWEAK-induced cell survival was significantly reduced by silencing the TWEAK and Fn14 gene functions by siRNA. Thus, the expression of TWEAK and Fn14 in neuroblastoma suggests that TWEAK functions as an important regulator of primary neuroblastoma growth, invasion and survival and that the therapeutic intervention of the TWEAK/Fn14 pathway may be an important clinical strategy in neuroblastoma therapy.

weak inducer

nf-kappa-b

receptor

Fn14

endothelial-cells

interferon-gamma

activation

neuroblastoma

fn14

small t

apoptosis

nuclear factor kappa B

tumor-growth

tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis

Author

I. Pettersen

N. Baryawno

Frida Abel

University of Gothenburg

W. H. Bakkelund

S. N. Zykova

J. O. Winberg

U. Moens

A. Rasmuson

P. Kogner

J. I. Johnsen

B. Sveinbjornsson

International Journal of Oncology

1019-6439 (ISSN) 17912423 (eISSN)

Vol. 42 4 1239-1248

Subject Categories

Medical Genetics

Cancer and Oncology

DOI

10.3892/ijo.2013.1800

More information

Created

10/10/2017