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 differentiation and apoptosis, we used the antisense oligonucleotide technique to inhibit N‐myc gene expression in neuroblastoma cells with different phenotypes: intermediate (I) and neuronal (N), or Schwann‐glia (S), respectively. The results suggest that N‐myc operates along different pathways. Inhibiting N‐myc gene expression either results in suppression of cell proliferation or in induction of differentiation and/or apoptosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 73:97–105, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.