Effects of lentivirus‐mediated astrocyte elevated gene‐1 overexpression on proliferation and apoptosis of human retinoblastoma cells.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of astrocyte elevated gene‐1 (AEG‐1) overexpression on the biological behaviour of human retinoblastoma (RB) cells and its possible mechanism. Methods: Three human RB cell lines (SO‐RB50, Y79 and WERI‐RB1) were infected with AEG‐1‐GFP recombinant lentiviral vectors to induce AEG‐1 overexpression, while the cells infected with negative lentiviral vectors and cells without any intervention formed control groups. Results: All three RB cell lines showed an overexpression of AEG‐1 after lentivirus infection (p < 0.001 for all three cell lines). The survival rate of RB cells increased (all p < 0.001) in the AEG‐1 overexpressed groups when compared with the control groups. There was a decrease in G0/G1 cell cycle phase arrest and an accumulation in G2/M cell cycle phase in all three RB cell lines (p < 0.001), with an induction in the S phase in WERI‐RB1 cells. It was paralleled by a downregulation of p21 and p27 proteins and an upregulation of the Cdc2 protein. The apoptosis rate of RB cells declined (p < 0.001) when AEG‐1 was overexpressed, in association with an upregulation of Bcl‐2 protein and a downregulation of Bax protein and cleaved caspase‐3 proteins. Conclusions: A lentivirus‐mediated AEG‐1 overexpression in RB cells led in vitro to a growth promotion and an apoptosis inhibition of human RB cells, associated with an upregulation of the Bcl‐2 protein, a downregulation of the Bax protein and of cleaved caspase‐3 proteins, and with alterations of the cell cycle. AEG‐1 may be involved in the development and progression of RB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]