N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 promotes proliferation of HO-8910 ovarian cancer cells

Abstract

Abstract Objective To investigate N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) expression in ovarian cancer cells and its potential usefulness as a diagnostic marker and/or target for therapeutic intervention. Methods Human NDRG2L/S gene was obtained by revers-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Sequence analysis confirmed the identity of NDRG2L/S gene, which was then inserted into a eukaryotic vector pLNCX2, which was in turn transfected into NDRG2 gene-negative HO-8910 cells. Flow cytometry (FCM) and 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay were conducted to determine the proliferation rate of HO-8910 cells. Cisplatin resistance of HO-8910 cells transfected with pLNCX2-NDRG2L/S was evaluated by FCM. Tumors were generated in female nude mice by subcutaneous injection of HO-8910 cells. Results NDRG2 gene was isolated and its expression vector was successfully constructed. NDRG2 expression positively correlated with the proliferation of HO-8910 cells. NDRG2L/S promoted tumorigenicity in HO-8910 cells. Conclusion The present study identified a novel function of NDRG2L/S gene and demonstrated its involvement in the promotion of ovarian cancer cell proliferation and enhancement of cisplatin resistance in HO-8910 cells. Future studies are warranted to determine the relationship between NDRG2 upregulation and ovarian cancer progression.