Effects of p21cip1/waf1 overexpression on growth, apoptosis and differentiation in human colon carcinoma cells

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21cip1/waf1 negatively regulates the progression of cell cycle and the potential usefulness of p21cip1/waf1 gene is proposed in gene therapy. However, studies have demonstrated a protective role of p21cip1/waf1 against apoptosis and little is known about effects of ectopic expression of p21cip1/waf1 on differentiation of colon cancer cells. In the present study, we found diffuse p21cip1/waf1 expression in only a few clinical samples of colorectal cancer with wild-type p53 gene. To explore the role of p21cip1/waf1 in cell growth, apoptosis and differentiation, we constitutively overexpressed p21cip1/waf1 in HT29 colon carcinoma cells. Ectopic overexpression of p21cip1/waf1 was associated with inhibition of CDK2-associated kinase activity, indicating the functionality of the introduced p21cip1/waf1 gene. Overexpression of p21cip1/waf1 caused an appreciable growth inhibition in monolayer and soft agar cultures and it significantly reduced sodium butyrate- but not 5-fluorouracil-induced apoptosis. p21cip1/waf1 overexpressing cells exhibited marked decrease of intestinal differentiation when assayed with intestinal alkaline phosphatase. Our findings suggest that introduction of p21cip1/waf1 gene into colon cancer cells may be useful for inhibiting cell growth but caution should be taken regarding the increased resistance to certain apoptosis-inducing agents and dysregulation of endogenous p21cip1/waf1-mediated differentiation process.     

N6‐isopentenyladenosine inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in a human colon cancer cell line DLD1

N⁶‐isopentenyladenosine (i6A) is a modified nucleoside with a pentaatomic isopentenyl derived from mevalonate that induces inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis in several tumor cell lines. In this study, we reported that N⁶‐isopentenyladenosine inhibited the proliferation and promotes apoptosis in DLD1 human colon cancer cells. It suppressed the proliferation of cells through inhibition of DNA synthesis, causing a cell cycle arrest that correlated with a decrease in the levels of cyclin E, cyclin A and cyclin D1 and with a concomitant increase in the levels of cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor p21waf and p27kip1. Moreover, it induced apoptosis through an increase in the number of annexin V‐positive cells, a downregulation of antiapoptotic products and caspase‐3 activation. The apoptotic effects of N⁶‐isopentenyladenosine were accompanied by sustained phosphorylation and activation of c‐jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) that induced phosphorylation of c‐jun. Overall, our data show that JNK, could play an important role in i6A‐mediated apoptosis in DLD1 human colon cancer cells © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Involvement of Akt/NF‐κB pathway in N6‐isopentenyladenosine‐induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cells

N⁶‐isopentenyladenosine (i6A) inhibits the tumor cell growth by inducing cell apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. However, little is known regarding the mechanisms by which the drug induces cell apoptosis. In this study, we further explored the molecular mechanisms of i6A as an anticancer agent on a human breast cancer cell line MDA MB 231. Treatment with i6A decreased the cell proliferation of MDA MB 231 cells in a dose‐dependent manner by arresting the cells at G₀/G₁ phase. This effect was strongly associated with concomitant decrease in the level of cyclin D1, cyclin E, cdk2, and increase of p21waf1 and p27kip. In addition i6A also induced apoptotic cell death by increasing the expression of Bax, and decreasing the levels of Bcl‐2 and Bcl‐xL, and subsequently triggered mitochondria apoptotic pathway (release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase‐3). We observed that i6A suppressed the nuclear factor kappaB (NF‐κB) pathway and inhibited the Akt activation. The results of this study indicate that i6A decreases cell proliferation and induces apoptotic cell death in human breast cancer cells, possibly by decreasing signal transduction through the Akt/NF‐κB cell survival pathway. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Expression of cyclins A and D and p21(waf1/cip1) proteins in renal cell cancer and their relation to clinicopathological variables and patient survival.

We have studied 118 renal cell carcinomas to analyse the expressions of cyclins A and D1 and p21(waf1/cip1), and their relationship to clinical and histopathological parameters as well as to clinical outcome. Cyclins A and D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 (waf1/cip1) were not expressed in normal renal tissue. Staining signals of cyclin D1 and p21(waf1/cip1) were always nuclear but cyclin A was also expressed in the cytoplasm of the tumour cells. The mean (range) fractions of cyclin A, cyclin D1 and p21(waf1/cip1)-positive tumour cells were 2.2% (range 0-20%), 23.3% (range 0-90%) and 6.8% (range 0-70%) respectively. The expression of cyclin A was related to venous invasion, high nuclear grade, high mitotic rate, high Ki-67 and high PCNA expressions (P < or = 0.006 for all). The expression of cyclin D1 was linked with age over 65 years, low nuclear grade and high p53 expression (P < or = 0.05 for all). An inverse correlation was present between p21(waf1/cip1) and cyclin D1 (P = 0.011). Cyclin A predicted survival in the entire study group (P = 0.0014), in T1-4/N0-2/M0 (P = 0.0007) and in T1-2/N0/M0 tumours (P = 0.0007). Cyclin A was also a powerful predictor of disease-free survival in T1-4/N0/M0 (P = 0.0027) tumours (P = 0.0007). Cyclin D1 and p21(waf1/cip1) were not significantly related to survival or disease-free survival in any of the groups. In the entire material the independent prognostic factors were the presence of distant metastases (relative risk (RR) 5.16, P < 0.001), T category (RR 2.68, P < 0.001), Ki-67 expression (RR 1.02, P = 0.026) and cyclin A expression (RR 1.12, P = 0.001). The independent predictors in T1-4/N0/M0 tumours were T-category (RR 2.67, P = 0.001) and cyclin A (RR 1.21, P < 0.001), and in T1-2/N0/M0 tumours the only significant predictor was cyclin A (RR 1.19, P = 0.0002). In renal cell carcinoma, cyclin A is a powerful and independent prognostic factor in all clinical stages of the disease, whereas cyclin D1 and p21(waf1/cip1) have no prognostic value.     

Prognostic impact of p21/waf1/cip1 in colorectal cancer

In addition to the tumor suppressor gene p53, Cyclin Dependent Kinases (CDK) are well known to influence the cell cycle in normal human tissues and various neoplasias as well. The purpose of our present study was to evaluate the expression of the CDK-inhibitor p21/waf1/cip1 in colorectal cancer with special emphasis on the prognostic impact. Between 1985 and 1991, 294 patients (median age, 65 years) underwent surgical operative therapy for colorectal cancer. Formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumor specimens were investigated. For immunohistochemistry the Catalysed Reporter Deposition (CARD) technique was performed. The survival probability was calculated and possible prognostic risk factors were tested using multivariate analysis. The p21/ waf1/cip1 staining pattern was positive in 197 (67%) specimens and negative in 97 (33%) samples. No significant correlation could been calculated between p21/waf1/cip1 expression and other variables such as age, sex, WHO-Classification, localisation, grading, TNM-classification or UICC-stage. Patients with a positive staining reaction had a significantly better survival (p < 0.0052). Moreover, p21/waf1/cip1 was shown to be an independent prognostic parameter by multivariate analysis (p < 0.022). In contrast with these findings, the p53 tumor status had no impact on survival. P21/ waf1/cip1 appears to be an independent prognostic parameter in colorectal cancer and is associated with a favorable survival. This feature may be related to a cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase induced by p21/waf1/cip1, resulting in lower tumor cell proliferative activity.     

Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-9, <Emphasis Type="Italic">trans</Emphasis>-11-conjugated linoleic acid on cell cycle of mammary adenocarcinoma cells(MCF-7)

Objective: To determine the effect of cis-9, trans-1 1-conjugated linoleic acid on the cell cycle of mammary cancer cells (MCF-7) and the possible mechanism of the inhibitory effect of c9,t11-CLA. Methods: Using cell culture and immunocytochemical techniques, we examined the cell growth, DNA synthesis, expression of PCNA, cyclin A, B₁, D₁, p16^ink4a and p21^cip/waf1 of MCF-7 cells at various c9,t11-CLA concentrations (25μM, 50μM, 100μM and 200μM), at 24h and 48h. 96% ethand was used as negative control. Results: The cell growth and DNA synthesis of MCF-7 cells were inhibited by c9,t11-CLA. After treatment with various doses of c9,t11-CLA mentioned above for 8 days, the inhibition frequency was 27.18%, 35.43%, 91.05%, and 92.86%, respectively. Inhibitory effect of c9,t11-CLA on DNA synthesis (except for 25μM, 24h) was demonstrated by significantly less incorporation of ³H-TdR than the negative control (P<0.05 and P<0.01). To further investigate the influence of the cell cycle progression, we found that c9,t11-CLA may arrest the cell cycle of MCF-7 cells. Immunocytochemical staining demonstrated that incubation with different concentration of c9,t11-CLA at various times significantly decreased the expression of PCNA, Cyclin A, B₁, D₁ in MCF-7 cells compared to the negative control (P<0.01), whereas the expression of p16^ink4a and p21^cip/waf1, cyclin-dependent kinases inhibitors (CDKI), were increased. Conclusions: The cell growth and proliferation of MCF-7 cells is inhibited by c9,t11-CLA via blocking cell cycle, accompanying reduced expression of cyclin A, B₁, D₁ and enhanced expression of CDKI (p16^ink4a and p21^cip/waf1). Foundation item: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.39870661). Biography: Liu Jia-ren(1968–), PhD, assistant professor, Public Health College, Harbin Medical University, majors in health toxicology.     

FHIT、p21waf1/cip1基因在膀胱移行细胞癌中的表达与意义

目的:通过测定脆性组氨酸三联体基因(FHIT)及p21waf1/cip1基因在膀胱移行细胞癌组织、正常膀胱组织中的表达,探讨FHIT基因以及p21waf1/cip1基因与膀胱癌的关系及其临床意义。方法:采用免疫组织化学SP法对43例膀胱移行细胞癌(BTCC)组织及14例正常膀胱组织中的FHIT基因及p21waf1/cip1基因的蛋白表达进行检测。结果:FHIT蛋白表达与肿瘤的分期、分级无相关性(P>0.05)而p21waf1/cip1蛋白的表达与之有相关性(P<0.05);FHIT蛋白的表达在GI肿瘤、浅表性肿瘤中明显低于在正常膀胱组织中的表达(P<0.05)而p21waf1/cip1蛋白的表达在上述组织比较中无差别(P>0.05);FHIT蛋白的表达在初发肿瘤中与复发肿瘤中无明显差别(P>0.05)而p21waf1/cip1蛋白的表达在上述两种组织比较有明显差别(P<0.05)。FHIT蛋白与p21waf1/cip1蛋白的表达没有相关性(P>0.05)。结论:FHIT基因可能成为早期诊断膀胱移行细胞癌的指标。p21waf1/cip1基因可能成为估计膀胱移行细胞癌的恶性程度及肿瘤侵袭性、预后的指标。FHIT基因在膀胱移行细胞癌中的作用机制可能与p21waf1/cip1基因没有关系。     

Abnormal accumulation of copper in LEC rat liver induces expression of p53 and nuclear matrix-bound p21waf 1/cip 1

The LEC rat is an inbred mutant strain which spontaneously developsliver injury and subsequent liver cancer. Liver injury in LECrats has recently been shown to be closely related to abnormalcopper accumulation in the liver. Previously, we reported thatLEC rat hepatocytes lose their growth potential, probably allowingselective growth of preneoplastic cells. In this study, to elucidatethe effects of copper accumulation on the growth activity ofLEC rat hepatocytes, we examined the growth activity and theexpression of p53 and p21^{waf 1/cip 1} in the livers of LEC ratsfed on either a control or a low-copper diet. Potential forcell proliferation of hepatocytes obtained from normal dietfed LEC rats was almost comparable to that of the cells fromage-matched Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Northern blot analysisshowed that the expression of p53 and p21^{waf 1/cip 1} was significantlyhigh in the livers of LEC rats fed a control diet, while theexpression of p53 and p21^{waf 1/cip 1} in the LEC rats fed a low-copperdiet was as low as that of SD rat livers. Western blot analysisconsistently showed that the amount of p21^{waf 1/cip 1} boundto the nuclear matrix scaffold of the LEC rat liver was reducedby feeding a low-copper diet. These findings suggest that abnormalaccumulation of copper induced the expression of p53 and p21^{waf1/cip 1}, resulting in the inhibition of cell proliferation ofLEC rat hepatocytes.     

The antitumor activity of the fungicide ciclopirox

Ciclopirox olamine (CPX) is a synthetic antifungal agent clinically used to treat mycoses of the skin and nails. Here, we show that CPX inhibited tumor growth in human breast cancer MDA‐MB‐231 xenografts. To unveil the underlying mechanism, we further studied the antitumor activity of CPX in cell culture. The results indicate that CPX inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in human rhabdomyosarcoma (Rh30), breast carcinoma (MDA‐MB231) and colon adenocarcinoma (HT‐29) cells in a concentration‐dependent manner. By cell cycle analysis, CPX induced accumulation of cells in G₁/G₀ phase of the cell cycle. Concurrently, CPX downregulated cellular protein expression of cyclins (A, B1, D1 and E) and cyclin‐dependent kinases (CDK2 and CDK4) and upregulated expression of the CDK inhibitor p21^Cip1, leading to hypophosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein. CPX also downregulated protein expression of Bcl‐xL and survivin and enhanced cleavages of Bcl‐2. Z‐VAD‐FMK, a pan‐caspase inhibitor, partially prevented CPX‐induced cell death, suggesting that CPX‐induced apoptosis of cancer cells is mediated at least in part through caspase‐dependent mechanism. The results indicate that CPX is a potential antitumor agent.     

Overexpression of Sp1 leads to p53‐dependent apoptosis in cancer cells

Numerous studies have documented that Sp1 expression level were elevated in various human cancers. However, the promoters of many pro‐apoptotic genes have been found to contain the Sp1 binding elements and are activated by Sp1 overexpression. To better understand the role and the mechanism of increased Sp1 levels on apoptosis, we used adenovirus to ectopically express GFP‐Sp1 protein in various cancer cell lines. First, in HeLa and A549 cells, we found that Sp1 overexpression suppressed the cell growth and increased the detection of sub‐G1 fraction, caspase‐3 cleavage, and annexin‐V signal revealed that apoptosis occurred. Furthermore, when cells entered the mitotic stage, the cell apoptosis was induced by Sp1 overexpression through affecting mitotic chromatin packaging. We also verified that p53 protein was accumulated and activated the p53‐dependent apoptotic pathways in the wild‐type p53 cells but not in the p53‐mutated or p53‐deleted cell lines when these cells were infected with adeno‐GFP‐Sp1 virus. In addition, A549 (p53^+/+) cells could be protected from apoptosis under Sp1 overexpression when p53 was knockdown by p53 shRNA. Finally, H1299 (p53^?/?) cell viability was significantly inhibited by adeno‐GFP‐Sp1 virus infection in the expression of p53. In conclusion, p53 was an essential factor for Sp1 overexpression‐induced apoptotic cell death in transforming cells. © 2009 UICC     

P21(WAF1/CIP1) is dispensable for G1 arrest, but indispensable for apoptosis induced by sodium butyrate in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Sodium butyrate (NaB) has been proposed as a potential anticancer agent. However, its mechanism of action is not totally elucidated. Here, we showed that NaB-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were associated with an increase of P21(waf1/cip1) in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. This increase was more important in the nuclei, as revealed by immunofluorescence analysis. Transient transfections of MCF-7 cells with p21 deficient for interaction with CDK, but not with p21 deficient for interaction with PCNA (p21PCNA-), abrogated NaB-induced cell cycle arrest. This indicated that cell cycle blockage involved the interaction of P21(waf1/cip1) with CDK. However, P21(waf1/cip1) was dispensable, since p21 antisense did not modify cell cycle arrest. On the other hand, NaB-induced apoptosis was abolished by p21 antisense or p21PCNA-. In addition, NaB decreased PCNA levels, but increased the association of PCNA with P21(waf1/cip1). These results suggested that NaB-induced apoptosis required P21(waf1/cip1) and its interaction with PCNA.     

Paradoxical correlations of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21waf1/cip1 and p27kip1 in metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (CDIs) p27kip1 and p21waf1/cip1 are key cell cycle-negative regulatory enzymes. The objective of this study was to correlate expression of p27kip1 and p21waf1/cip1 with survival, chemotherapy responsiveness, and expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67 in patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Immunohistochemistry was performed with antibodies to p27kip1, p21waf1/cip1, and Ki-67 on samples from 66 patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma. Interpretation was performed by visual inspection and automated image analysis. Patients who obtained a response to chemotherapy had greater p21waf1/cip1 tumor staining with a mean of 10.0 positive cells/high-powered field, compared with 4.5 positive cells/high-powered field for nonresponders (P = 0.03). A positive Spearman correlation was seen between Ki-67 and p27kip1 (r = 0.48; P = 0.0001), as well as between Ki-67 and p21waf1/cip1 (r = 0.48; P = 0.0001). A trend toward shorter survival was seen in patients with positive specimens (median survival of 10 months for patients with both p27kip1- and p21waf1/cip1-positive specimens, compared with 22 months for patients with neither p27kip1- nor p21waf1/cip1-positive specimens). In contrast to that previously reported in normal colonic mucosa or early-stage colorectal cancer, we observed positive correlations of Ki-67 with both p27kip1 and p21waf1/cip1, a trend toward greater CDI staining indicating worse prognosis, and greater p21waf1/cip1 staining in tumors that were chemosensitive. These findings suggest that in the metastatic setting, CDIs may show altered function, compared with their role in the normal cell cycle.     

Expression of p21<Superscript>waf1/cip1</Superscript>, p27<Superscript>kip1</Superscript>, p63 and Androgen Receptor in Low and High Gleason Score Prostate Cancer

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of p21^waf1/cip1, p27^kip1, p63 and androgen receptor proteins in relation to serum prostate specific antigen levels in low and high Gleason score prostate cancers. Biopsies of patients suffering from prostate adenocarcinoma of low (3 + 3 to 3 + 4) and high (5 + 4 to 5 + 5) Gleason scores (13 cases each group) were immunostained for positive regulators of cell cycle control (p21^waf1/cip1 and p27^kip1), and essential markers of normal prostate gland ontogeny (p63) and growth (androgen receptor) to find differentially expressed markers of malignant progression. Serum prostate specific antigen levels were also monitored at the time of biopsy and following anti-androgen therapy. All cases except one in each group were androgen receptor positive. P63 and p21^waf1/cip1 proteins detected in normal basal cell nuclei were lost in all but one studied tumors respectively. P27^kip1 protein, however, was detected in all low Gleason score prostate cancers, but it was found in only 7/13 high score cases. Prostate specific antigen levels, either pre- or post-treatment, did not show strict correlation with the p27^kip1 results. The low to high grade dedifferentiation of prostate adenocarcinoma is accompanied with the down-regulation of p27^kip1 protein, which may be an important molecular sign of the lost cell cycle control.     

Blockade of MEK signaling potentiates 5‐Aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine‐induced apoptosis and upregulation of p21waf1 in acute myelogenous leukemia cells

We have recently reported that the mitogen‐activated protein kinase/ERK kinase (MEK) inhibitor AZD6244 (ARRY‐142886) strikingly potentiated the effects of histone deacetylase inhibitor to induce growth arrest and apoptosis of acute myelogeneous leukemia (AML) cells in association with enhanced upregulation of p21^waf1. This study examined the effects of the MEK inhibitor on the action of DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5‐Aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine (5‐AzadC), another epigenetic agent in AML cells. AZD6244 significantly potentiated the ability of 5‐AzadC to induce growth arrest and apoptosis of NB4, and freshly isolated AML cells. In parallel, 5‐AzadC induced expression of p21^waf1 in AML cells, which was potently enhanced in the presence of AZD6244. Further studies explored the molecular mechanisms by which 5‐AzadC induced expression of p21^waf1 and found that a low dose of 5‐AzadC (1 μM) induced acetylation of histone H3 on the p21^waf1 gene promoter; however, higher dose of this compound (3 or 5 μM) potently induced DNA damage as assessed by expression of γH2AX, in NB4 cells. These effects were strikingly enhanced by concomitant blockade of MEK signaling. Furthermore, knock‐down of p21^waf1 by the siRNA rescued NB4 cells from 5‐AzadC‐mediated growth inhibition. Taken together, combination of 5‐AzadC and the MEK inhibitor may be useful for treatment of individuals with a subset of AML. © 2009 UICC     

SPH3643: A novel cyclin‐dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor with good anticancer efficacy and strong blood‐brain barrier permeability

The cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK)4/6‐cyclin D1‐Rb‐p16/ink4a pathway is responsible for regulating cell progression past the G₁ restriction point during the cell cycle. The development of a majority of human tumors is associated with dysregulation of this pathway, resulting in increased cancer cell proliferation. Both CDK4 and CDK6, well‐validated cancer drug targets, function primarily as catalytic enzymes that mediate the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein (Rb). Here, we determined that SPH3643 is a novel potent antiproliferative agent that inhibits CDK4/6 kinase activity. In biochemical assays, SPH3643 showed more potent inhibition of both CDK4 and CDK6 than did 2 published CDK4/6 inhibitors, LY2835219 and palbociclib, and had better selectivity than LY2835219. Further in vitro study revealed that SPH3643 blocked Cdk/Rb signaling by inhibiting the phosphorylation of Rb^Ser780 and arrested the MCF‐7 cancer cells at G₀/G₁ phase, resulting in marked inhibition of the proliferation of Rb‐positive cancer cell lines. In vivo SPH3643 treatment in mice bearing xenograft tumor models of breast cancer, colon cancer, acute myelocytic leukemia, and glioblastoma resulted in significant decreases in tumor growth. SPH3643 was able to particularly strongly inhibit glioblastoma (U87‐MG) cell growth in the brains of orthotopic carcinoma xenograft mice due to its high degree of intracerebral penetration and significant persistence in this setting. Together these results revealed that SPH3643 is a potent, orally active small‐molecule inhibitor of CDK4/6 with robust anticancer efficacy and a high degree of blood‐brain barrier permeability.