Profiling genes differentially expressed in NGX6 overexpressed nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by cDNA array

Purpose: To investigate the role of the NGX6 gene in carcinoma proliferation and profile the downstream genes regulated by NGX6 in a nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line. Methods: We established a NPC cell line with NGX6 overexpression by gene transfection. Subsequently, a high-density cDNA array was used to identify differentially expressed genes in NGX6-overxepressed cells. Four differentially expressed genes or EST(expressed sequence tags) were examined using Northern blot. Furthermore, flow cytometry was employed to analyze the percentages of cells in the G₀-G₁, S, and G₂-M phase of the cell cycle in a NGX6 overexpression cell line. Results: Fifty-five genes and ESTs were differentially expressed after NGX6 transfection in a cDNA array assay. Several genes related to cell cycle and transcription regulation were identified using this technique. Flow cytometry analysis showed NGX6 overexpression can increase the length of the G₁ phase of the cell cycle in NPC cells. Conclusion: We demonstrated the existence of a panel of genes that can be regulated by NGX6. Overexpression of NGX6 can influence the distribution of the cell cycle in NPC cells. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the exact function of these genes and their relationship to NGX6 expression.