p19ARF prevents G1 cyclin-dependent kinase activation by interacting with MDM2 and activating p53 in mouse fibroblasts.

p19ARF encoded by the INK4a tumor suppressor gene locus functions upstream of p53 to induce cell cycle arrest. p19ARF can interact with MDM2 and p53 in cells ectopically overexpressing these three components, but the biochemical cascades from p19ARF to cell cycle arrest has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we generated stably transfected NIH3T3 cells that express exogenous p19ARF under the control of a heavy metal-inducible metalothionine promoter. Cells arrested in G1 by ectopically expressed p19ARF contained considerably reduced G1 cyclin dependent kinase (cdk2 and cdk4) activities. The expression of cyclin A (a regulatory subunit of cdk2) markedly decreased, while cyclin D1, the major cdk4 partner in fibroblasts, expressed at a slightly higher level and formed complexes with cdk2 and cdk6 in addition to cdk4. Induction of p19ARF activated p53 by increasing its stability, and allowed the expression of p21Cip1, which bound to all of the cyclin D1-cdk complexes (cyclin D1-cdk2, -cdk4, and -cdk6) thereby inhibiting their kinase activities. p19ARF formed complexes with several cellular proteins including mouse MDM2. The majority of MDM2 was found in the complex with p19ARF, while no p53 was detected in association with p19ARF. Thus, we propose that p19ARF neutralizes MDM2 by sequestration from p53, which results in activation of p53, inhibition of G1 cyclin-cdk activities, and G1 arrest.     

Adenovirus-mediated p16INK4a gene expression radiosensitizes non-small cell lung cancer cells in a p53-dependent manner

We examined the influence of adenovirus-mediated wild-type p16INK4a (Ad/p16) expression on the radiation sensitivity of NSCLC cell lines, all of which lacked constitutive p16INK4a but each of which varied in p53 status: A549 (-p16INK4a/ +pRb/wt-p53), H322 (-p16INK4a/ +pRb/mt-p53), and H1299 (-p16INK4a/ +pRb/deleted-p53). The in vitro clonogenic survival results indicate that Ad/p16 enhanced the radiosensitivity of A549 but not H322 or H1299. Further analysis indicated that the apoptosis induced by combination therapy using Ad/p16 plus irradiation was dependent on the endogenous p53 status of the cancer cells. We performed Western blotting to analyse the p53 protein expression of A549 cells treated with either Ad/p16 or Ad/Luc. Endogenous p53 protein levels were higher in A549 cells transfected with Ad/p16 than in those transfected with Ad/Luc. Furthermore, when wt-p53 protein expression was restored in H1299 using Ad/ p53, Ad/p16 stabilized p53 protein expression and radiosensitized the cells. These results suggest that Ad/ p16-induced stabilization of p53 protein may play an important role in Ad/p16 mediated radiosensitization by enhancing or restoring apoptosis properties. Thus, Ad/ p16 plus radiation in combination may be a useful gene therapy strategy for tumors that have wt-p53 but nonfunctional p16INK4a.     

p53 enhances gefitinib-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis by regulation of Fas in non-small cell lung cancer

Treatment with gefitinib, a specific inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK), has resulted in dramatic responses in some patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Most patients who respond to gefitinib have EGFR-TK mutations; however, >10% of patients with EGFR-TK mutations do not respond. Similarly, some patients without EGFR-TK mutations respond to this drug, suggesting that other factors determine sensitivity to gefitinib. Aberrations of the tumor suppressor gene p53 are frequently associated with drug resistance. In this study, we investigated the role of p53 in growth-inhibitory and apoptotic effects of gefitinib in the human NSCLC cell lines NCI-H1299 and A549, which have no EGFR-TK mutations. NCI-H1299 cells, which had a p53-null genotype, were more resistant to gefitinib compared with A549 cells, which were wild-type p53 (IC(50), 40 micromol/L in NCI-H1299 and 5 micromol/L in A549). Treatment of A549 with gefitinib resulted in the translocation of p53 from cytosol to nucleus and the up-regulation of Fas, which was localized to the plasma membrane. In the stable H1299 cell line with tetracycline-inducible p53 expression, induced p53 enhanced growth inhibition and apoptosis by gefitinib through the up-regulation of Fas and restoration of caspase activation. A caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-fmk, reduced these effects. Conversely, inhibition of p53 using antisense oligonucleotide in A549 caused a significant decrease in apoptosis by gefitinib and down-regulation of Fas under the same conditions. In conclusion, p53 may play a role in determining gefitinib sensitivity by regulating Fas expression in NSCLC.     

p53 Cooperates berberine-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis of non-small cell human lung cancer cells in vitro and tumor xenograft growth in vivo

Berberine has been shown to have anti-carcinogenic effects. Since p53 is the most commonly mutated tumor suppressor gene, and a lack of functional p53 is associated with an increased risk of cancer development, we examined the effects of berberine on p53-positive and p53-deficient non-small cell human lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Treatment of A549, which express wild-type p53, and H1299, which are p53-deficient, human lung cancer cells with berberine resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation and an increase in apoptotic cell death; however, A549 cells were more sensitive to the berberine-induced cytotoxic effects than H1299 cells. Further, the treatment of A549 cells with pifithrin-alpha, a specific inhibitor of p53, or transfection of A549 cells with a p53 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide resulted in a reduction in the berberine-induced inhibition of cell proliferation and apoptosis. The berberine-induced apoptosis of both the A549 and H1299 human lung cancer cells was associated with the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, reduction in the levels of Bcl-2, Bcl-xl while increase in Bax, Bak, and activation of caspase-3. Treatment of the cells with pan-caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) or caspase-3 inhibitor (z-DEVD-fmk) inhibited berberine-induced apoptosis, thus suggesting the role of caspase-3. Further, the administration of berberine by oral gavage inhibited the growth of s.c. A549 and H1299 lung tumor xenografts in athymic nude mice, however, the growth of tumor xenograft of H1299 cells was faster than A549 cells in mice and the chemotherapeutic effect of berberine was more pronounced in the p53-positive-A549 tumor xenograft than p53-deficient-H1299 tumor xenograft.     

肺癌p14ARF和p16INK4a基因协同表达缺失及其意义

目的：研究抑癌基因位点ＩＮＫ４ａ－ＡＲＦ在肺肿瘤细胞中的表达状况,揭示ｐ１４ＡＲＦ和ｐ１６ＩＮＫ４ａ协同表达缺失与肺癌发生发展的相关性。方法：用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ和Ｗｅｓｔｅｒｎ ｂｌｏｔ对６株肺癌细胞（ＳＰＣ－Ａ－１,Ｃａｌｕ－１,Ｈ４４６,ＳＨ７７,Ａ５４９,Ｈ４６０）的ＩＮＫ－４ａ－ＡＲＦ基因位点在ｍＲＮＡ、蛋白水平上进行检测,对ＰＣＲ产物进行纯化和测序分析。结果：６株肺癌细胞中,有３株细胞（Ｈ４     

p14~(ARF)对照射后肺癌细胞加速再群体化抑制效应

目的　探讨抑癌蛋白p14ARF功能恢复对照射后肺癌细胞加速再群体化的影响。方法　以ARF基因纯合缺失但表达野生型p5 3的人肺腺癌A5 49和H46 0细胞系为靶细胞 ,应用Fugene 6对照射后的细胞进行pCI neo p14ARF 表达载体基因转染 ,检测照射前后和转染前后细胞潜在倍增时间(Tpot)、细胞周期分布及克隆存活率变化。结果　 6GyX射线照射后 96h处 ,A5 49和H46 0细胞Tpot分别缩短 2 5 .4%和 2 9.2 % ,与照射前比较差异有显著性意义 (P <0 .0 1)。此时进行p14ARF表达载体基因转染 ,恢复p14ARF功能 ,可使A5 49和H46 0细胞Tpot延长并接近照射前水平 ,同时伴随G0 G1 期和G2 M期细胞显著增加 ,S期细胞显著下降 ,克隆存活率下降。结论　A5 49和H46 0细胞照射后存在加速再群体化。p14ARF功能恢复对其照射后加速再群体化有抑制作用 ,该作用与p14ARF的G1 、G2 期阻滞功能密切相关     

p14(ARF) modulates the cytolytic effect of ONYX-015 in mesothelioma cells with wild-type p53

ONYX-015 has been reported to kill selectively tumor cells lacking functional p53. Genetic alterations of INK4a/ARF locus, which is a predominant event in malignant pleural mesothelioma, may result in loss of p14(ARF) and subsequent disruption of p53 pathway in cancer cells. In the present study, ONYX-015 was able to kill three mesothelioma cell lines (H28, H513, and 211H) with wild-type p53 but lacking p14(ARF). In contrast, MS-1 mesothelioma cells, which expressed both p53 and p14(ARF), were resistant to ONYX-015. Introducing p14(ARF) gene into the H28 cell, a mesothelioma cell without p14(ARF) expression, significantly increased the resistance of this cell line to the cytolytic effect of ONYX-015. Our results suggest that human mesotheliomas with wild-type p53 yet lacking p14(ARF) are potential candidates for ONYX-015 therapy.     

Dysfunction of p53 pathway in human colorectal cancer: analysis of p53 gene mutation and the expression of the p53-associated factors p14ARF, p33ING1, p21WAF1 and MDM2

Mutations of p53 tumor suppressor gene increase with tumor progression in colorectal cancers. In this study, we examined the expressions of p33ING1, p14ARF, MDM2 and p21WAF1 mRNA in 25 advanced colorectal cancers by quantitative RT-PCR method, and compared the expression levels of p33ING1, p14ARF, p21WAF1 and MDM2 in relation to p53 status in the tumors. Fifteen of 25 colorectal cancers (60%) showed abnormal accumulation of p53 protein in the nucleus, and the remaining 10 colorectal cancers (40%) were negative for p53 immunostaining. We found a G --> T transition (nonsense mutation) at the first nucleotide of codon 298 (exon 8) in one p53-negative case, and a frame shift mutation on exon 7 in another p53-negative case. In remaining eight p53-negative cases, there was no mutation in the entire open reading frame of p53 cDNA. Interestingly, in eight cases with p53 wild-type gene, 6 cases (75%) showed a marked down-regulation of p14ARF mRNA, and three cases (37.5%) over-expressed MDM2 mRNA. Only one case with wild-type p53 gene showed normal level expression of p53 regulatory-factors (p33ING1, p14ARF, and MDM2). Thus, p53 tumor suppressor pathway was disrupted in 24 of 25 colorectal cancers (96%).     

Administration of wild-type p53 adenoviral vector synergistically enhances the cytotoxicity of anti-cancer drugs in human lung cancer cells irrespective of the status of p53 gene

Recombinant adenovirus mediated p53 gene transfer combined with anti-cancer drugs has clinical potential for gene therapy of lung cancer. We constructed a recombinant adenoviral vector expressing wild-type p53 cDNA (Ad-p53), and assessed the efficacy of a combined treatment with Ad-p53 and six anti-cancer drugs (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, docetaxel, irinotecan, and etoposide) for human lung cancer cell lines, H1299 (with deleted p53), RERF-LC-OK (with mutant p53), and A549 (with wild-type p53). The infection of the Ad-p53 vector into H1299 cells, RERF-LC-OK cells, or A549 cells increased the sensitivity to all six drugs regardless of the cellular p53 status, and a synergism was observed by the isobolic method in combination studies (D<1). We conclude that our strategy using adenoviral mediated p53 gene transfer to cancer cells can enhance the cytotoxic effect of anti-cancer drugs, which leading to an improvement of lung cancer chemotherapy.     

Adenovirus-mediated p14(ARF) gene transfer in human mesothelioma cells

BACKGROUND: The p14(ARF) protein encoded by the INK4a/ARF locus promotes degradation of the MDM2 protein and thus prevents the MDM2-mediated inhibition of p53. Homozygous deletion of the INK4a/ARF locus is common in human mesothelioma and may result in the loss of p14(ARF) and the inactivation of p53. We designed this study to evaluate the biologic and potential therapeutic roles of p14(ARF) expression in mesothelioma cells. Methods and Results: We constructed Adp14, an adenoviral vector carrying human p14(ARF) complementary DNA, and used it to transfect human mesothelioma cell lines H28, H513, H2052, and MSTO-211H. Overexpression of p14(ARF) led to increased amounts of p53 and the p21(WAF) proteins and dephosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein. The growth rate of mesothelioma cells was inhibited markedly by infection with Adp14 compared with mock infection or infection with a control adenovirus vector, AdCtrl. Overexpression of p14(ARF) induced G(1)-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death. Cytotoxicity assays showed that Adp14 had a statistically significantly (P =.002) greater effect on colon cancer (HCT116) cell lines containing two copies of the wild-type p53 gene than on p53-null cells, suggesting that functional p53 is a critical determinant of p14(ARF)-mediated cytotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: The transfection of p14(ARF) into mesothelioma cells led to the overexpression of p14(ARF), which resulted in G(1)-phase arrest and apoptotic cell death. These results suggest that this gene therapy-based approach may be of use in the treatment of mesothelioma.     

MDM2-ARF complex regulates p53 sumoylation

The p53 tumor suppressor is regulated by MDM2-mediated ubiquitination and degradation. Ubiquitination of p53 is regulated by ARF, which binds to MDM2 and inhibits its E3 ligase function. P53 is also subjected to modification by conjugation of SUMO-1. We found that a p53 mutant deficient for MDM2 binding (p53(14Q19S)) is poorly sumoylated in vivo compared to wild-type p53. Overexpression of MDM2 increases the level of p53 sumoylation, which is further stimulated by expression of ARF. Stimulation of p53 sumoylation requires a highly conserved region (102-116) encoded by exon 2 of ARF and correlates with the ability of ARF to target p53 to the nucleolus. An MDM2 deletion mutant (MDM2(Delta222-437)) with activated cryptic nucleolar localization signal also targets p53 to the nucleolus and efficiently promotes p53 sumoylation in the absence of ARF. Direct targeting of p53 to the nucleolus enhances its sumoylation in an MDM2- and ARF-dependent fashion. These results show that p53 sumoylation is regulated by MDM2- and ARF-mediated nucleolar targeting.     

p53 status is a major determinant of effects of decreasing peroxiredoxin I expression on tumor growth and response of lung cancer cells to treatment

PURPOSE: The potential roles of peroxiredoxin (Prx) I in carcinogenesis and treatment have been explored. Our previous study revealed differences between A549 (functional p53) and H1299 (null p53) Prx I antisense transfectants. The discrepancy might have resulted from the p53 status. In this study, we further investigated the role of Prx I and p53 on lung cancer growth and the response to treatment in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: We established stable A549 and H1299 transfectants with Prx I antisense and p53, respectively. We then examined their characteristics in vitro and used nude mice xenografts of these cell lines to compare their capacity for tumor invasion and spontaneous metastasis and their sensitivity to radiotherapy. RESULTS: Increased reactive oxygen species caused by lower Prx I activity induced p53 expression. In lethal stress, the augmentation of reactive oxygen species was partially reversed by blocking p53 in A549 with Prx I antisense. We demonstrated the potential contribution of p53-dependent mechanisms to inhibit lung tumor growth and increase radiosensitization using H1299 transfected with p53 in vitro and in vivo. An increased p53 level attenuated the capacity of the cells for metastasis by decreasing vascular endothelial growth factor and induced radiosensitization by increased apoptosis and cell senescence and by regulating intracellular reactive oxygen species. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that p53 status has an important role in the tumor-inhibiting and radiosensitizing effects of decreasing Prx I. Both Prx I and p53 may be powerful prognosticators for lung cancer.     

Polyoma virus disrupts ARF signaling to p53

Polyoma virus (Py) differs from other small DNA tumor viruses in not encoding a protein that inactivates p53. The complete Py early region encoding the large T-antigen (PyLT), middle T-antigen (PyMT) and small T-antigen (PyST) will transform primary rodent cells and REF52 cells, but PyMT, the main Py oncogene, by itself will only transform these cells when p53 or ARF is inactivated. We have related Py oncogene cooperation with the effects of the Py T-antigens on the ARF-p53 signaling pathway. PyMT activates an ARF-induced p53-mediated block to cell division explaining the inability of PyMT alone to generate dividing transformed cells. In contrast, in REF52 cells transformed by the whole Py early region (PyREF52), ARF is upregulated but p53 is not activated. Thus PyLT and/or PyST negates the PyMT-induced ARF-mediated block to cell division by disrupting the signaling pathway from ARF to p53. Although there is no detectable interaction or co-localization of endogenous ARF (nucleoli) and MDM2 (nucleoplasm) in PyREF52 cells, expression of transfected ectopic ARF results in an MDM2/ARF interaction and sequestration of MDM2 into the nucleoli. Sequestration of MDM2 by ARF in the nucleoli is not essential for a p53 response in REF52 cells as activation of Raf in REF52Raf-ER cells results in an ARF-induced p53-mediated cell cycle block in the absence of a detectable ARF-MDM2 interaction. Py may provide new insights into the cellular ARF-p53 signaling pathway.     

MicroRNA‐34a is an important component of PRIMA‐1‐induced apoptotic network in human lung cancer cells

Restoration of p53 function in tumor cells would be an attractive strategy for lung cancer therapy because p53 mutations are found in more than 50% of lung cancers. The small molecule PRIMA‐1 has been shown to restore the tumor suppression function of p53 and to induce apoptosis in human tumor cells. The mechanism of apoptosis induced by PRIMA‐1 remains unclear. We investigated the effects of PRIMA‐1 in apoptosis with Western immunoblot analysis, TaqMan microRNA real‐time PCR, cell viability analysis and flow cytometry using human lung cancer cell lines containing mutant (H211 and H1155), wild‐type (A549) or null (H1299) p53. PRIMA‐1 induced massive apoptosis in the H211 and H1155 cells, but was less toxic to the A549 and H1299 cells. Western immunoblot analysis showed cleavage of PARP in H211 and H1155 cells but not in A549 and H1299 cells following treatment with PRIMA‐1. In addition, p53 protein was also phosphorylated in H211 and H1155 cells. TaqMan microRNA assay showed that the expression of microRNA‐34a was increased in the H211 and H1155 cells posttreatment. Knockdown microRNA‐34a decreased the rate of apoptosis caused by PRIMA‐1. The above results suggest that microRNA‐34a is one of the important components of PRIMA‐1‐induced apoptotic network in the cancer cells harboring mutant p53.     

p14ARF silencing by promoter hypermethylation mediates abnormal intracellular localization of MDM2

The INK4a/ARF locus encodes two distinct tumor suppressors, p16INK4a and p14ARF. Although the contribution of p16INK4a to human tumorigenesis through point mutation, deletion, and hypermethylation has been widely documented, little is known about specific p14ARF lesions and their consequences. Recent data indicate that p14ARF suffers inactivation by promoter hypermethylation in colorectal cancer cells. Because it is known that p14ARF prevents MDM2 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling and thus stabilizes p53 by attenuating MDM2-mediated degradation, we studied the relationship of p14ARF epigenetic silencing to the expression and localization of MDM2 and p53. Cancer cell lines with an unmethylated p14ARF promoter showed strong nuclear expression of MDM2, whereas in a colorectal cell line with p14ARF hypermethylation-associated inactivation, MDM2 protein was also seen in the cytosol. Treatment with the demethylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine was able to reinternalize MDM2 to the nucleus, and p53 expression was restored. No apparent changes in retinoblastoma localization were observed. We also studied the profile of p14ARF promoter hypermethylation in an extensive collection of 559 human primary tumors of different cell types, observing that in colorectal, gastric, renal, esophageal, and endometrial neoplasms and gliomas, aberrant methylation of p14ARF was a relatively common epigenetic event. MDM2 expression patterns revealed that lack of p14ARF promoter hypermethylation was associated with tumors showing exclusive nuclear MDM2 staining, whereas MDM2 cytosolic staining was frequently observed in neoplasms with aberrant p14ARF methylation. Taken together, these data support that epigenetic silencing of p14ARF by promoter hypermethylation is a key mechanism in the disturbance of the MDM2 nuclear localization in human cancer.