Differential aminoacylase expression in neuroblastoma

Abstract Neuroblastoma, a cancer of the sympathetic nervous system, is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children. MYCN amplification and increased BDNF/TrkB signaling are features of high‐risk tumors; yet, only ˜25% of malignant tumors display these features. Thus, the identification of additional biomarkers and therapeutic targets is essential. As aminoacylase 1 (ACY1), an amino acid deacetylase, is a putative tumor suppressor in small cell lung and renal cell carcinomas, we investigated whether it or the other family members aspartoacylase (ASPA, aminoacylase 2) or aminoacylase 3 (ACY3) could serve a similar function in neuroblastoma. Aminoacylase expression was examined in TrkB‐positive, MYCN‐amplified (SMS‐KCNR and SK‐N‐BE) and TrkB‐negative, non‐MYCN‐amplified (SK‐N‐AS, SK‐N‐SH, SH‐SY5Y and SH‐EP) neuroblastoma cell lines. Each aminoacylase exhibited distinct spatial localization ( i.e. , cytosolic ACY1, membrane‐associated ASPA and nuclear ACY3). When SK‐N‐SH cells were treated with neural differentiation agents ( e.g. , retinoic acid and cAMP) in media containing 10% serum, ACY1 was the only aminoacylase whose expression was upregulated. ASPA was primarily expressed in SH‐EP cells of a glial sublineage. ACY3 was more highly expressed in the TrkB‐positive, MYCN‐amplified lines. All three aminoacylases were expressed in normal human adrenal gland, a common site of neuroblastoma origin, but only ACY1 and ACY3 displayed detectable expression in primary neuroblastoma tumor. Bioinformatics data mining of Kaplan–Meier survival revealed that high ACY3 expression is correlated with poor prognosis, whereas low expression of ACY1 or ASPA is correlated with poor prognosis. These data suggest that aminoacylase expression is dysregulated in neuroblastoma.