Differentiation and apoptosis of neuroblastoma cells: Role of N-myc gene product

To clarify the role and function of the N-myc product in cell differentiati on and apoptosis, we used the antisense oligonucleotide technique to inhibi t N-myc gene expression in neuroblastoma cells with different phenotypes: i ntermediate (I) and neuronal (N), or Schwann-glia (S), respectively. The re sults suggest that N-myc operates along different pathways. Inhibiting N-my c gene expression either results in suppression of cell proliferation or in induction of differentiation and/or apoptosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 73:97-105 , 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.