AHR regulates MYCN gene expression through the modulation of E2F1 and MYCN promoter activity.

(A) SK-N-DZ cells were transiently co-transfected with a constant amount of MYCN promoter luciferase reporter plasmid (100 ng) and Renilla luciferase reporter plasmid (pRL-TK) (10 ng) along with human AHR expression plasmid (pEGFP-C1-hAHR) or pEGFP-C1 (400 ng). Twenty-four hours after transfection, cells were lysed and luciferase activities were measured. Firefly luminescence signal was standardized by the Renilla luminescence signal. (B) SK-N-SH cells were co-transfected with human AHR expression plasmid by a lentivirus transduction system along with E2F1 expression plasmid or control vector (pLKO_AS2). After 48 h, total mRNA were collected and subjected to RT-PCR. MYCN mRNA was analyzed by SYBR-Green real-time PCR.