NDRG4 is downregulated in glioblastoma and inhibits cell proliferation.

NDRG4 is a member of the N-myc downregulated gene family (NDRG) belonging to the alpha/beta hydrolase superfamily. We have previously documented discrepancy between our analysis of the expression and function of NDRG4 in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and a recent publication by Schilling et al., who reported that NDRG4 is upregulated in GBM compared to human cortex tissues and knock down of NDRG4 reduced the viability of GBM cells. In the present study, we found that NDRG4 is indeed downregulated, at both RNA and protein levels, by quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, in GBM compared to normal tissues, and that over expression of NDRG4 inhibited proliferation of GBM cells. These new observations can inform the selection of lead molecular compounds for drug discovery as well as novel diagnostics for GBM. They also lend evidence to NDRG4 a role of tumor suppressor.