Anti-carcinogenic activity of NSAIDs mediated by a new TGF-Beta superfamily gene

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Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Recently, NSAIDs have been reported to have a chemopreventive effect on the development of human colorectal cancer. NSAIDs can inhibit COX-1 and/or COX-2 activity and thus inhibit prostaglandin synthesis. However, some reports indicate that the chemopreventive effect on colon cancer may, in part, be independent of prostaglandin inhibition. Treatment of human colon cancer cells as well as breast and lung cancer cells causes the up-regulation of novel gene (name as NAG-1) which we have characterized as member of the TGF-Bata superfamily gene. The project will be performed with three main aims; 1) to further characterize the expression of NAG-1 by NSAIDs and to explore the potential down regulation by pro-inflammatory agents, 2) to investigate the transacting elements in the NAG-1 gene promoter, 3) to identify of biological function(s) of NAG-1 protein in apoptosis and inflammation using cell culture and animal models. The study may provide new insights and mechanisms for the attenuation of colon cancer and anti-inflammatory activity of NSAIDs.