Senescence-like Growth Arrest Research Articles

Accelerated senescence: An emerging role in tumor cell response to chemotherapy and radiation

Treatment of malignancies with chemotherapeutic drugs and/or radiotherapy is designed to eliminate the disease by depriving the tumor cell of its reproductive potential. Frequently, the desired effect of cell killing is achieved through the promotion of apoptosis; however, accumulating evidence suggests that apoptosis may not be the exclusive or even primary mechanism whereby tumor cells lose their self-renewal capacity after radiation or drug treatment, particularly in the case of solid tumors. While failure to undergo apoptosis in response to chemotherapeutic drugs or radiation may represent a mechanism of drug and radiation resistance, particularly in the case of leukemias and lymphomas, it is gradually being recognized that in the case of solid tumors, loss of reproductive capacity can occur through alternative pathways including reproductive cell death or mitotic catastrophe, through autophagic cell death, and as described below, through a terminally arrested state similar to replicative senescence. Studies building upon the phenomenon of replicative senescence in normal cells approaching the limit of their reproductive potential have identified a comparable senescence-like arrest as a component of the tumor cell response to chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation. This response, which has been termed “premature senescence”, “senescence-like growth arrest”, “stress-induced premature senescence”, and “accelerated senescence”, can also result from supraphysiological mitogenic signaling, sub-optimal culture conditions, and ectopic expression of oncogenes. Here, we will use the term “accelerated senescence” in our consideration of the morphological, biochemical, and molecular aspects of treatment-induced senescence, its relationship to classical replicative senescence, its prevalence in clinical specimens and the implications of accelerated senescence for the outcome of cancer therapy.

A Role for Fibroblasts in Mediating the Effects of Tobacco-Induced Epithelial Cell Growth and Invasion

Cigarette smoke and smokeless tobacco extracts contain multiple carcinogenic compounds, but little is known about the mechanisms by which tumors develop and progress upon chronic exposure to carcinogens such as those present in tobacco products. Here, we examine the effects of smokeless tobacco extracts on human oral fibroblasts. We show that smokeless tobacco extracts elevated the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen, oxidative DNA damage, and DNA double-strand breaks in a dose-dependent manner. Extended exposure to extracts induced fibroblasts to undergo a senescence-like growth arrest, with striking accompanying changes in the secretory phenotype. Using cocultures of smokeless tobacco extracts-exposed fibroblasts and immortalized but nontumorigenic keratinocytes, we further show that factors secreted by extracts-modified fibroblasts increase the proliferation and invasiveness of partially transformed epithelial cells, but not their normal counterparts. In addition, smokeless tobacco extracts-exposed fibroblasts caused partially transformed keratinocytes to lose the expression of E-cadherin and ZO-1, as well as involucrin, changes that are indicative of compromised epithelial function and commonly associated with malignant progression. Together, our results suggest that fibroblasts may contribute to tumorigenesis indirectly by increasing epithelial cell aggressiveness. Thus, tobacco may not only initiate mutagenic changes in epithelial cells but also promote the growth and invasion of mutant cells by creating a procarcinogenic stromal environment.

Ras Modifies Proliferation and Invasiveness of Cells Expressing Human Papillomavirus Oncoproteins

Infection by human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major risk factor for human cervical carcinoma. However, the HPV infection alone is not sufficient for cancer formation. Cervical carcinogenesis is considered a multistep process accompanied by genetic alterations of the cell. Ras is activated in approximately 20% of human cancers, and it is related to the metastatic conversion of tumor cells. We investigated how Ras activation was involved in the malignant conversion of HPV-infected lesions. The active form of H-ras was introduced into human primary keratinocytes expressing the HPV type 18 (HPV18) oncoproteins E6 and/or E7. We analyzed the keratinocytes' growth potentials and found that the activation of the Ras pathway induced senescence-like growth arrest. Senescence could be eliminated by high-risk E7 expression, suggesting that the pRb pathway was important for Ras-induced senescence. Then we analyzed the effect of Ras activation on epidermis development by using an organotypic "raft" culture and found that the E7 and H-ras coexpressions conferred invasive potential on the epidermis. This invasiveness resulted from the upregulation of MT1-MMP and MMP9 by H-ras and E7, respectively, in which the activation of the MEK/extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathway was involved. These results indicated that the activation of Ras or the related signal pathways promoted the malignant conversion of HPV-infected cells.

Loss-of-function genetic screening identifies a cluster of ribosomal proteins regulating p53 function

Introduction of conditional murine p53 (p53val135) and oncogenic ras into double p53/p21-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) showed that p21waf1 was not required for combined ras/p53-induced senescent-like growth arrest. We used this cellular system to identify key players in the ras-p53-induced senescence in the absence of p21. Applying a retroviral-based genetic screen, we obtained mRNA antisense fragments against a cluster of 14 different ribosomal proteins which loss of function bypasses p53-induced growth arrest. The expression of the ribosomal protein antisense fragments reduced the transcriptional activity of p53. Experiments with eGFP-p53 chimeras suggest that the effect is mediated by a reduction of p53. To study whether p53 was downregulated by MDM2-dependent degradation, we tested the effect of the RP antisenses in double p53/MDM2-null MEFs and observed that in the absence of MDM2, reduction of the RP levels also decreases p53 levels. Therefore, although we cannot discard other unknown mechanism, we suggest that the decrease in the levels of ribosomal proteins might inhibit p53-specific translation. Finally, quantitative analysis comparing levels of mRNA in tumours versus mRNA in normal tissue of the same organ and patient showed that a variable percentage of lung, prostate or colon tumours have reduced levels of the RPs tested. Interestingly, in most cases, the reduction of ribosomal protein mRNAs occurs only to 50%. Our data suggest that ribosomal protein imbalance might contribute to p53 regulation through the ribosomal biogenesis checkpoint.

Tumor suppressor gene insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein 1 (IGFBP-rP1) induces senescence-like growth arrest in colorectal cancer cells

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-related protein 1 (IGFBP-rP1) is a potential tumor suppressor gene. This study attempted to explore a potential senescence-like role for IGFBP-rP1 in suppressing human colorectal cancer. Recombinant IGFBP-rP1 inhibited cell proliferation and induced G1 cell cycle arrest in RKO and CW2 cells. It induced a senescence-like phenotype by showing 2-fold higher β-galactosidase activity in IGFBP-rP1-transfectants over that in control cells. Western blot confirmed down-regulation of phosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (pRB) and up-regulation of p53 in IGFBP-rP1-transfectants as compared with control cells. Thus, IGFBP-rP1 might be a key molecule in the cellular senescence pathway. Our results uncovered a novel molecular mechanism involving the altered expression of pRB and p53 for tumor suppressor gene IGFBP-rP1 in colorectal cancer. Restoration of IGFBP-rP1 function might have potential therapeutic significance in colorectal cancer.

Synergistic effect of mTOR inhibitor rapamycin and fluorouracil in inducing apoptosis and cell senescence in hepatocarcinoma cells

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide with an annual occurrence of one million new cases. At present there is no effective treatment for HCC individuals that not amenable to curative therapies. Recent studies show the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signal pathway is involved in multiple cellular functions including proliferation, differentiation, tumorigenesis, and apoptosis. Rapamycin (a specific mTOR inhibitor) could lead to G1 arrest of many malignant cell lines, and currently analogs of rapamycin are being investigated as a cancer chemotherapeutic adjuvant. This study investigated rapamycin and chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) in combination treatment induced apoptosis and cell senescence in hepatocarcinoma cell line SMMC-7721 cells. Treating SMMC-7721 cells with rapamycin plus 5-Fu led to not only apoptosis but also cell senescence, and the senescent cells exhibited significantly less clonogenic potential than 5-Fu individually treated cells. Further study showed rapamycin plus 5-Fu-induced senescence-like growth arrest was accompanied by down-regulation of AP-1 and NF-κB transcription activity. These results suggest that inhibitors of mTOR may have anticancer potential when used together with some other chemotherapeutic agents, and that down-regulation of AP-1 and NF-κB transcription activity might take part in a senescence-like growth arrest program induced by rapamycin plus 5-Fu.

MRGing Chromatin Dynamics and Cellular Senescence

Normal primary cells have a finite ability to divide in culture and after a number of population doublings enter a state of irreversible cell cycle arrest known as replicative senescence. Several cellular stresses have been shown to induce a senescence-like growth arrest including shortened telomeres, DNA-damaging stresses, and drastic changes in chromatin structure, for example, through histone deacetylase (HDAC) induction. Histones are core components of chromatin which are subject to a number of chemical modifications that influence the dynamic state of chromatin structure. Proper chromatin structure formation is crucial for most DNA-dependent processes including transcription, replication, and repair which have a profound impact on cellular proliferation and senescence. Several genes important for chromatin remodeling such as the tumor suppressors p53 and retinoblastoma (Rb) affect cellular senescence by mediating changes in chromatin structure and gene expression. The Morf4-Related Gene (MRG) family of transcription factors forms stable interactions with chromatin-modifying complexes including histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and HDAC complexes and interact with Rb. Further, the MRG family was founded by a gene, Mortality Factor on Chromosome 4, capable of inducing senescence in immortalized cell lines. In this paper, we review the role of the MRG family of proteins in chromatin dynamics and cellular senescence.

PPP1CA contributes to the senescence program induced by oncogenic Ras

Ectopic expression of conditional murine p53 (p53val135) and oncogenic ras is enough to induce a senescent-like growth arrest at the restrictive temperature. We took advantage of this cellular system to identify new key players in the ras/p53-induced senescence. Applying a retroviral-based genetic screen, we obtained an antisense RNA fragment against PPP1CA, the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 1alpha, whose loss of function bypasses ras/p53-induced growth arrest and senescence. Expression of a specific short hairpin (sh)RNA against PPP1CA impairs the p53-dependent induction of p21 after DNA damage and blocks the subsequent pRb dephosphorylation, thus bypassing p53-induced arrest. We found that oncogenic ras promotes an increase in the intracellular level of ceramides together with an increase in the PPP1CA protein levels. Addition of soluble ceramide to the cells induced a senescence phenotype that is blocked through PPP1CA downregulation by specific shRNA. Analysis of human tumors suggests that one of the PPP1CA alleles might be lost in a high percentage of carcinomas such as kidney and colorectal. The overexpression of two out of five PPP1CA alternative spliced variants reduced tumor cell growth and the downregulation of the protein to hemizygosity increased the anchorage-independent growth. We propose that oncogenic stress induced by ras causes ceramide accumulation, therefore, increasing PPP1CA activity, pRb dephosphorylation and onset of the p53-induced arrest, contributing to tumor suppression.

Tumor-suppressive miR-34a induces senescence-like growth arrest through modulation of the E2F pathway in human colon cancer cells

Accumulating evidence suggests a role for microRNAs in human carcinogenesis as novel types of tumor suppressors or oncogenes. However, their precise biological role remains largely elusive. In the present study, we aimed to identify microRNA species involved in the regulation of cell proliferation. Using quantitative RT-PCR analysis, we demonstrated that miR-34a was highly up-regulated in a human colon cancer cell line, HCT 116, treated with a DNA-damaging agent, adriamycin. Transient introduction of miR-34a into two human colon cancer cell lines, HCT 116 and RKO, caused complete suppression of cell proliferation and induced senescence-like phenotypes. Moreover, miR-34a also suppressed in vivo growth of HCT 116 and RKO cells in tumors in mice when complexed and administered with atelocollagen for drug delivery. Gene-expression microarray and immunoblot analyses revealed down-regulation of the E2F pathway by miR-34a introduction. Up-regulation of the p53 pathway was also observed. Furthermore, 9 of 25 human colon cancers (36%) showed decreased expression of miR-34a compared with counterpart normal tissues. Our results provide evidence that miR-34a functions as a potent suppressor of cell proliferation through modulation of the E2F signaling pathway. Abrogation of miR-34a function could contribute to aberrant cell proliferation, leading to colon cancer development.

Chronic Treatment with Resveratrol Induces Redox Stress- and Ataxia Telangiectasia-mutated (ATM)-dependent Senescence in p53-positive Cancer Cells

The induction of senescence, an irreversible growth arrest, in cancer cells is regarded as a mean to halt tumor progression. The phytoalexin resveratrol (RV) is known to possess a variety of cancer-preventive, -therapeutic, and -chemosensitizing properties. We report here that chronic treatment with RV in a subapoptotic concentration induces senescence-like growth arrest in tumor cells. In contrast to the widely accepted antioxidant property of RV, we demonstrate that one causative stimulus for senescence induction by chronic RV is an increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ROS formed upon RV exposure include hydrogen peroxide and superoxide and originate largely from mitochondria. Consistently, co-incubation with the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine interfered with RV-mediated reactivation of the senescence program. Molecular mediators on the way from increased ROS levels to the observed growth arrest include p38 MAPK, p53, and p21. Moreover, we provide evidence that RV-initiated replication stress, apparent by activation of the ataxia telangiectasia-mutated kinase pathway, is associated with increased ROS levels and senescence induction. This is the first report linking cell cycle effects with a pro-oxidant and pro-senescent effect of RV in cancer cells.

Sirt1 modulates premature senescence-like phenotype in human endothelial cells

Yeast Sir2 plays critical roles in gene silencing, stress resistance and longevity. Mammalian Sirt1 NAD +-dependent protein deacetylase, the closest homolog of Sir2, regulates cell cycle, cellular senescence, apoptosis and metabolism, by functional interactions with a number of biological molecules such as p53. To investigate a role of Sirt1 in endothelial dysfunction and premature senescence, we examined the effects of Sirt1 inhibition in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Sirt1 inhibition by sirtinol, which is a 2-hydroxy-1-napthaldehyde derivative, or siRNA for Sirt1-induced premature senescence-like phenotype, as judged by increased senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity, sustained growth arrest and enlarged and flattened cell morphology at 10 days after the treatment. Sixty-four percent of sirtinol (60 μmol/L)-treated HUVEC was SA-β-gal-positive, whereas only 17% of vehicle-treated cells were positive. Sirt1 inhibition by sirtinol or Sirt1 siRNA increased PAI-1 expression and decreased both protein expression and activity of eNOS. Treatment with sirtinol or Sirt1 siRNA increased acetylation of p53, while p53 expression was unaltered. Impaired epidermal growth factor-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases was associated with Sirt1 inhibition-induced senescence-like growth arrest. Conversely, overexpression of Sirt1 prevented hydrogen peroxide-induced SA-β-gal activity, morphological changes and deranged expression of PAI-1 and eNOS. These results showed that Sirt1 inhibition increased p53 acetylation and induced premature senescence-like phenotype in parallel with increased PAI-1 and decreased eNOS expression. Our data suggest that Sirt1 may exert protective effects against endothelial dysfunction by preventing stress-induced premature senescence and deranged expression of PAI-1 and eNOS.

Inhibitory role of RhoA on senescence-like growth arrest by a mechanism involving modulation of phosphatase activity

Recently, negative effects of phosphatase in tumorigenesis and metastasis have been suggested in various tumor types. In this study, we showed that RhoA activation modulated phosphatase during senescence-like arrest in human prostate cancer cells. Under senescence-inducing condition, decreased Erk phosphorylation was detected in caRhoA-transfected cells and inactivation of Erk, but not p38, prevented doxorubicin-induced cell senescence. Cells were induced to senescence by inhibition of phosphatase activity (VHR, MKP3, or PP2A) without additional cellular stress. Of interest, caRhoA prevented doxorubicin-induced decrease of phosphatase. Thus, we postulate that RhoA signaling may protect cells against cellular senescence by maintaining phosphatase activity and Erk dephosphorylation.

Effect of the Silybin-Phosphatidylcholine Complex (IdB 1016) on the Development of Mammary Tumors in HER-2/neu Transgenic Mice

Silybin, a main component of the milk thistle of Silybum marianum, has been reported to possess anticancer activity. We investigated the effects of IdB 1016, a complex of silybin with phosphatidylcholine, on the development of mammary tumors appearing spontaneously in HER-2/neu transgenic mice. The mechanisms involved in the antitumor effect of IdB 1016 were evaluated by studying the apoptosis, senescent-like growth arrest, intratumoral leukocyte infiltrate, and the expression of HER-2/neu and p53 in tumoral mammary glands from transgenic mice and in human breast SKBR3 tumor cells. The administration of IdB 1016 delayed the development of spontaneous mammary tumors, reduced the number and size of mammary tumor masses, and diminished lung metastasization in HER-2/neu transgenic mice. In tumoral mammary glands from IdB 1016-treated mice, a down-regulation of HER-2/neu gene expression was associated with an increased senescent-like growth arrest of tumor cells, and an increased infiltrate of neutrophils, CD4, and CD8 T cells. Both senescent-like growth arrest and apoptosis were significantly increased and were associated with a reduced p185(HER-2/neu) protein and an increased p53 mRNA in SKBR3 in vitro treated with IdB 1016 in comparison with control cells. The results show the antitumor effect of IdB 1016 in the development of spontaneous mammary tumors in HER-2/neu transgenic mice. The effect of IdB 1016 might be related to the down-regulation of HER-2/neu expression and the induction of senescent-like growth arrest and apoptosis through a p53-mediated pathway in tumor cells.

Activation of p53-dependent growth suppression in human cells by mutations in PTEN or PIK3CA.

In an effort to identify genes whose expression is regulated by activated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling, we performed microarray analysis and subsequent quantitative reverse transcription-PCR on an isogenic set of PTEN gene-targeted human cancer cells. Numerous p53 effectors were upregulated following PTEN deletion, including p21, GDF15, PIG3, NOXA, and PLK2. Stable depletion of p53 led to reversion of the gene expression program. Western blots revealed that p53 was stabilized in HCT116 PTEN(-/-) cells via an Akt1-dependent and p14(ARF)-independent mechanism. Stable depletion of PTEN in untransformed human fibroblasts and epithelial cells also led to upregulation of p53 and senescence-like growth arrest. Simultaneous depletion of p53 rescued this phenotype, enabling PTEN-depleted cells to continue proliferating. Next, we tested whether oncogenic PIK3CA, like inactivated PTEN, could activate p53. Retroviral expression of oncogenic human PIK3CA in MCF10A cells led to activation of p53 and upregulation of p53-regulated genes. Stable depletion of p53 reversed these PIK3CA-induced expression changes and synergized with oncogenic PIK3CA in inducing anchorage-independent growth. Finally, targeted deletion of an endogenous allele of oncogenic, but not wild-type, PIK3CA in a human cancer cell line led to a reduction in p53 levels and a decrease in the expression of p53-regulated genes. These studies demonstrate that activation of PI3K signaling by mutations in PTEN or PIK3CA can lead to activation of p53-mediated growth suppression in human cells, indicating that p53 can function as a brake on phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-triphosphate-induced mitogenesis during human cancer pathogenesis.

Cell Cycle Checkpoint and Apoptosis Induction in Glioblastoma Cells and Fibroblasts Irradiated with Carbon Beam

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the cytotoxicity of high linear-energy-transfer (LET) ionizing radiation (IR) on glioblastoma cells and fibroblasts using different modes of cell inactivation assays. Two human glioblastoma cell lines with or without p53-mutation, and fibroblasts were used as materials. Gamma rays and 290 MeV/u carbon beams with LET values of 20, 40, 80 keV/mum were used. To evaluate cell inactivation, we used colony formation assay, morphological detection of apoptosis, and flow-cytometry. Serial expressions of p53 and p21 were analyzed by immunoblotting. High-LET IR reduced the reproductive potency of these cells to identical levels in spite of differences in gamma-sensitivity, and yield of cell death correlated to LET values. A p53-wild-type glioblastoma cell line demonstrated a higher yield of apoptosis than other cell lines, whereas fibroblasts hardly displayed any cell death indicating senescence-like growth arrest even after high LET IR. A p53-mutant tumor cell line demonstrated very low yield of cell death with prominent G2/M arrest. Results of radiosensitivity differ according to what mode of cell inactivation is selected. While fibroblasts depend on G1 block after IR, G2/M blocks may play crucial roles in the radioresistance of p53-mutant glioblastoma cells.

Stress resistance in long-lived mouse models

Cellular stress resistance has been observed in a variety of long-lived mouse systems. The Ames and Snell dwarf mice show altered hormonal profiles (low levels of growth hormone/IGF-1 and of other hormones). These altered hormonal profiles lead to physiological changes in cells, leading to increased resistance to multiple forms of stress including UV light, oxidative stress, heat, and the heavy metal cadmium. The cells also show resistance to carcinogen and senescence-like growth arrest induced by ambient oxygen. Thus, cellular stress resistance may confer resistance to various diseases associated with stress insults. Stress resistance has also been observed in various long-lived mice (hemizygous knockout of igf- 1r, a mutation in p66 shc, and klotho overexpression) and in vitro CR (Carolie Restriction) system. Many of the long-lived mouse systems show reduction or inhibition of the insulin/IGF-1-FOXO pathway, thus suggesting that there may be an overlapping mechanism for increased life span. The insulin/IGF-1-FOXO pathway interlocks to several signal transduction pathways through AKT, FOXO, JNK, and other components. Taken together, stress resistance may be an essential function in cells that leads to increased longevity. I will summarize molecular basis of stress resistance and further discuss stress resistance in other systems.

Agonist and Antagonist of Retinoic Acid Receptors Cause Similar Changes in Gene Expression and Induce Senescence-like Growth Arrest in MCF-7 Breast Carcinoma Cells

Biological effects of retinoids are mediated via retinoic acid (RA) receptors (RAR) and retinoid X receptors (RXR). The best-characterized mechanism of retinoid action is stimulation of transcription from promoters containing RA response elements (RARE). Retinoids induce senescence-like growth arrest in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells; this effect is associated with the induction of several growth-inhibitory genes. We have now found that these genes are induced by RAR-specific but not by RXR-specific ligands. Genome-scale microarray analysis of gene expression was used to compare the effects of two pan-RAR ligands, one of which is a strong agonist of RARE-dependent transcription, whereas the other induces such transcription only weakly and antagonizes the inducing effect of RAR agonists. Both RAR ligands, however, produced very similar effects on gene expression in MCF-7 cells, suggesting that RARE-dependent transcription is only a minor component of retinoid-induced changes in gene expression. The effects of RAR ligands on gene expression parallel changes associated with damage-induced senescence, and both ligands induced G(1) arrest and the senescent phenotype in MCF-7 cells. The RAR ligands up-regulated many tumor-suppressive genes and down-regulated multiple genes with oncogenic activities. Genes that are strongly induced by RAR ligands encode secreted bioactive proteins, including several tumor-suppressing factors. In agreement with these observations, retinoid-treated MCF-7 cells inhibited the growth of retinoid-insensitive MDA-MB-231 breast carcinoma cells in coculture. These results indicate that RARE-independent transcriptional effects of RAR ligands lead to senescence-like growth arrest and paracrine growth-inhibitory activity in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells.

Primary and Compensatory Roles for RB Family Members at Cell Cycle Gene Promoters That Are Deacetylated and Downregulated in Doxorubicin-Induced Senescence of Breast Cancer Cells

When treated with DNA-damaging chemotherapy agents, many cancer cells, in vivo and in vitro, undergo a terminal growth arrest and acquire a senescence-like phenotype. We investigated the molecular basis for this in breast cancer cells following a 2-hour treatment with 1 muM doxorubicin. Treated cells arrested in G1 and G2 phases of the cell cycle, with concomitant reductions in S-phase and G2-M regulatory genes. p53 and p21 protein levels increased within hours after treatment and were maintained for 5 to 6 days but were reduced 8 days posttreatment, though the cells remained growth arrested. Levels of p130 rose after drug treatment, and it was the primary RB family member recruited to the S-phase promoters cyclin A and PCNA and G2-M promoters cyclin B and cdc2, remaining present for the entire 8-day time period. In contrast, p107 protein and promoter occupancy levels declined sharply after drug treatment. RB was recruited to only the PCNA promoter. In MCF-7 cells with p130 knockdown, p107 compensated for p130 loss at all cell cycle gene promoters examined, allowing cells to retain the growth arrest phenotype. Cells with p130 and p107 knockdown similarly arrested, while cells with knockdown of all three family members failed to downregulate cyclin A and cyclin B. These results demonstrate a mechanistic role for p130 and compensatory roles for p107 and RB in the long-term senescence-like growth arrest response of breast cancer cells to DNA damage.

Selective Pharmacologic Inhibition of c-Jun NH2-Terminal Kinase Radiosensitizes Thyroid Anaplastic Cancer Cell Lines via Induction of Terminal Growth Arrest

The high radioresistance of anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) and cultured ATC cells stipulates for the means of increasing their radiosensitivity. It has been shown that c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) activation is one of the manifestations of radiation response in ATC cells. Assessment of the effect of selective JNK inhibition on ATC cell radiosensitivity and clarification of the associated mechanisms. The JNK inhibitor markedly suppressed ATC cell growth in a reversible cytostatic manner. The combination treatment with JNK inhibitor plus ionizing radiation induced a significant decrease in clonogenic survival of irradiated cells as compared with either singular treatment. The effect was not due to apoptosis of exposed cells but to a profound senescence-like terminal growth arrest occurring irrespectively of cells' p53 mutational status. Postradiational DNA damage repair was also significantly compromised in the presence of SP600125. JNK signaling is an essential component of ATC cell proliferation and survival after radiation therapy. Hence, pharmacological interference with JNK pathway in combination with radiotherapy may be a promising treatment of ATC.

P53 Mediates the Accelerated Onset of Senescence of Endothelial Progenitor Cells in Diabetes

Adverse metabolic factors, including oxidized small and dense low density lipoprotein (ox-dmLDL) can contribute to the reduced number and the impaired functions of circulating endothelial progenitors (EPC) in diabetic patients. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved, EPC from normal donors were cultured in the presence of ox-dmLDL. Under these experimental conditions EPC undergo to senescent-like growth arrest. This effect is associated with Akt activation, p21 expression, p53 accumulation, and retinoblastoma protein dephosphorylation and with a reduced protective effect against oxidative damage. Moreover, depletion of endogenous p53 expression by small interfering RNA demonstrates that the integrity of this pathway is essential for senescence to occur. Activation of the Akt/p53/p21 signaling pathway and accelerated onset of senescence are also detectable in EPC from diabetic patients. Finally, diabetic EPC depleted of endogenous p53 do not undergo to senescence-growth arrest and acquire the ability to form tube-like structures in vitro. These observations identify the activation of the p53 signaling pathway as a crucial event that can contribute to the impaired neovascularization in diabetes.