Binding sequence-dependent regulation of the human proliferating cell nuclear antigen promoter by p53

Exposure of a lung epithelial cell line to ionizing radiation (IR) arrests cell cycle progression through 48 h post-exposure. Coincidentally, IR differentially activates expression of the cell cycle inhibitor, p21/WAF1, and the DNA replication protein, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). p21/WAF1 mRNA levels remain elevated through 48 h post-exposure to IR, while PCNA mRNA levels increase transiently at early times. Since p21/WAF1 inhibits DNA replication by directly binding PCNA, the relative levels of the two proteins can determine cell cycle progression. The PCNA p53-binding site displayed reduced p53 binding affinity in vitro relative to the distal p21/WAF1 p53-binding site. Substitution of the p21/WAF1 site for the resident p53-binding site in the PCNA promoter altered the responses to increasing amounts of p53 or IR in transient expression assays. The p21/WAF1 p53-binding site sustained activation of the chimeric PCNA promoter under conditions (high p53 levels or high dose IR) that the PCNA p53-binding site did not. Binding site-specific regulation by wild-type p53 was not observed with mutant p53 harboring a serine to alanine change at amino acid 46. Limited activation of the PCNA promoter by p53 and its modified forms would restrict the amount of PCNA made available for DNA repair.     

Air pollution by carcinogenic PAHs and plasma levels of p53 and p21(WAF1) proteins

We analyzed the effect of exposure to carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (c-PAHs) in ambient air on the plasma levels of p53 and p21^WAF1 proteins among city policemen, bus drivers and controls in three European cities: Prague (Czech Republic), Kosice (Slovakia) and Sofia (Bulgaria). p53 and p21^WAF1 proteins are key regulators of the cell cycle and are accepted as universal markers of genotoxic stress and DNA damage. In total 204 exposed subjects (100 smokers, 104 nonsmokers) and 152 controls (54 smokers, 98 nonsmokers) were analyzed. Personal exposure to c-PAHs was evaluated using personal samplers during the working shift. The levels of p53 and p21^WAF1 proteins were assessed by ELISA assay. There were no differences between the levels of either protein between exposed and controls, or smokers and nonsmokers, in any city. However, we observed significant differences in p53 plasma levels in all subjects regardless of the exposure status between the individual cities (median values: 5, 31, 234 pg/ml, p < 0.001, for Prague, Kosice and Sofia, respectively). The levels correspond to the differences in exposure levels to c-PAHs and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in the individual cities. A multiple linear regression analysis confirmed that c-PAHs exposure is a variable significantly affecting levels of both proteins in all locations. When all subjects were divided into the group exposed to below-median levels of c-PAHs and the group exposed to above-median levels of c-PAHs we found significantly higher p53, as well as p21^WAF1 levels in the above-median exposure group (p53, 167 pg/ml versus 25 pg/ml, p < 0.001; p21^WAF1, 2690 pg/ml versus 2600 pg/ml, p < 0.05). Among all subjects p53 plasma levels were positively correlated with p21^WAF1 levels, exposure to B[a]P, c-PAHs and levels of total DNA adducts; for p21^WAF1 levels we observed the positive correlation with cotinine, c-PAHs exposure, total and B[a]P-like DNA adduct levels. In conclusion our results suggest that p53 and p21^WAF1 proteins plasma levels may be useful biomarkers of c-PAHs environmental exposure.     

Adaptive response in irradiated human lymphocytes: radiobiological and genetical aspects

The adaptive response (AR) in human lymphocytes in different experimental protocols was investigated. The AR was found to be present in cells pre-exposed to 3 cGy of X-rays in G0, G1 and S phase as well as with tritiated water (4 muCi/ml) when the 'challenge' dose was given in G2. There was no AR after prior exposure of the cells in S phase to secondary irradiation from 70 GeV protons. The AR was not observed after preliminary X-irradiation of the lymphocytes in G0 and G1 and 'challenge' irradiation in G1. Cells from 6 patients with Down's syndrome were tested. At least 5 of them did not show the AR. The AR is considered to be a phenomenon of the antimutagenic aftereffect.     

Potentiality of DNA-dependent protein kinase to phosphorylate Ser46 of human p53

DNA damage induces accumulation and activation of p53 via various posttranslational modifications. Among them, several lines of evidence indicated the phosphorylation of Ser46 as an important mediator of DNA damage-induced apoptosis but the responsible kinase remains to be clarified, especially in the case of ionizing radiation (IR). Here we showed that DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) could phosphorylate Ser46 of p53 in addition to reported phosphorylation sites Ser15 and Ser37. However, IR-induced phosphorylation of Ser46 was seen even in M059J, a human glioma cell line lacking DNA-PKcs, and it was, at most, only slightly less than in control M059K. On the other hand, a related kinase ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM), which was shown to be essential for IR-induced phosphorylation of Ser46, could poorly phosphorylate Ser46 by itself. These results collectively suggested two pathways for IR-induced phosphorylation of Ser46, i.e., direct phosphorylation by DNA-PK and indirect phosphorylation via ATM.     

Micronucleus frequency is increased in peripheral blood lymphocytes of nuclear power plant workers

Nuclear power plant workers are exposed to ionizing radiation at relatively low doses and for prolonged periods of time. To investigate the extent of genetic damage in these workers, a group of 133 nuclear power plant workers and 39 healthy controls were compared using the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. The frequency of micronuclei was significantly increased in peripheral lymphocytes of nuclear power plant workers (20.5 +/- 9.7% compared to 13.7 +/- 5.9%). A significant dose-response relationship was observed between micronucleus (MN) frequency and both the accumulated dose and the duration of employment (P < 0.01 for both variables after adjusting for age, gender and cigarette smoking) with an evident leveling off for exposures over 200 mSv. Accumulated dose and duration of employment were significantly correlated but exerted independent effects on MN frequency. For non-occupational parameters, age was significantly associated with the frequency of micronuclei, while gender was not. Smoking habit showed no overall effect, whereas increased chromosome damage was evident in smokers of more than 20 cigarettes per day. In conclusion, a dose-related association between MN frequency and exposure to ionizing radiation was evident in nuclear power plant workers, encouraging the application of the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay in biomonitoring studies of human populations with prolonged exposure to ionizing radiation.     

Determination of sensitive positions to mutations in human p53 protein

Over last several years, we demonstrated that the mutations are more likely to occur at randomly unpredictable amino acid pairs in a protein. We therefore can in principle predict the amino acid pairs sensitive to the future mutations in a protein. However, we still need to predict the positions at which the sensitive amino acid pairs are located in a protein. In this study, we use a probabilistic approach to analyze the effect of 191 mutations in human p53 protein and can approximately estimate the sensitive positions to mutations in human p53 protein.     

MEK2 regulates ribonucleotide reductase activity through functional interaction with ribonucleotide reductase small subunit p53R2

The p53R2 protein, a newly identified member of the ribonucleotide reductase family that provides nucleotides for DNA damage repair, is directly regulated by p53. We show that p53R2 is also regulated by a MEK2 (ERK kinase 2/MAP kinase kinase 2)-dependent pathway. Increased MEK1/2 phosphorylation by serum stimulation coincided with an increase in the RNR activity in U2OS and H1299 cells. The inhibition of MEK2 activity, either by treatment with a MEK inhibitor or by transfection with MEK2 siRNA, dramatically decreased the serum-stimulated RNR activity. Moreover, p53R2 siRNA, but not R2 siRNA, significantly inhibits serum-stimulated RNR activity, indicating that p53R2 is specifically regulated by a MEK2-dependent pathway. Co-immunoprecipitation analyses revealed that the MEK2 segment comprising amino acids 65–171 is critical for p53R2–MEK2 interaction, and the binding domain of MEK2 is required for MEK2-mediated increased RNR activity. Phosphorylation of MEK1/2 was greatly augmented by ionizing radiation, and RNR activity was concurrently increased. Ionizing radiation-induced RNR activity was markedly attenuated by transfection of MEK2 or p53R2 siRNA, but not R2 siRNA. These data show that MEK2 is an endogenous regulator of p53R2 and suggest that MEK2 may associate with p53R2 and upregulate its activity.     

P53 status influences regulation of HSPs and ribosomal proteins by PDTC and radiation

Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is a thiol-containing compound that can act under varying conditions as an anti-oxidant or pro-oxidant. Utilizing microarrays, we determined the effect of PDTC +/- ionizing radiation (IR) on the expression of heat shock protein (HSP) genes in isolated B6/129 wild-type (WT) and p53-/- spleen cells. Extremely significant microarrays demonstrated that PDTC, but not IR, markedly up-regulated the expression of the majority of detectable HSP genes in WT and many to a significantly greater degree in p53-/- deficient cells. Determination of the glutathione/glutathione disulfide ratio indicated that PDTC was acting as a pro-oxidant under these conditions. From these data we conclude that the clinical use of "antioxidants" with radiotherapy or chemotherapy must be very carefully based on knowledge of the p53 status of their intended normal and tumor target cells.     

抑癌基因p53与肿瘤研究的最新进展

p53基因是迄今为止已发现的与人类肿瘤发生相关性最高的抑癌基因,其主要生物学功能是通过调控DNA修复、细胞周期停滞和诱导细胞凋亡,维持基因组和细胞稳定,抑制肿瘤生长;肿瘤血管再生、微小RNA（microRNA,miRNA）及肿瘤干细胞是近几年来肿瘤发生机理研究领域的热点,本文综述了p53基因在肿瘤血管再生、miRNA、肿瘤干细胞中作用的最新研究进展及其在肿瘤治疗中的应用。     

The role of p53 in treatment responses of lung cancer

Resistance to radio- and chemotherapy is a major problem in treatment responses of lung cancer. In this disease, biological markers, that can be predictive of response to treatment for guiding clinical practice, still need to be validated. Radiotherapy and most chemotherapeutic agents directly target DNA and in response to such therapies, p53 functions as a coordinator of the DNA repair process, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. In fact, it participates in the main DNA repair systems operative in cells, including NHEJ, HRR, NER, BER, and MMR. Given the high p53 mutation frequency in lung cancer which likely impairs some of the p53-mediated functions, a role of p53 as a predictive marker for treatment responses has been suggested. In this review, we summarize the conflicting results coming from preclinical and clinical studies on the role of p53 as a predictive marker of responses to chemotherapy or radiotherapy in lung cancer.     

宫颈癌中p53表达和病毒感染的研究

应用PCR对121例宫颈脱落细胞和组织分别检测HPV-16／18和HSV-2DNA。同时应用免疫组化S-P法检测76例宫颈组织中P53过度表达。结果发现,宫颈癌组织中HPV-16／18和HSV-2阳性率分别为61．3％和32．3％,慢性宫颈炎组HPV-16／18和HSV-2阳性率分别为22．5％和20．0％,与正常宫颈组比较均有显著性差异。宫颈癌中HPV-16／18和HSV-2混合感染率为16．1％。p53过度表达率在慢性宫颈炎、宫颈上皮内瘤变(CIN)、宫颈癌组织中呈梯度递增。另外,宫颈癌组织中P53过度表达与HPV-16／18、HSV-2的感染无相关性。提示：宫颈癌的发生与HPV-16／18关系密切,HSV-2可能与HPV-16／18协同作用导致宫颈癌的发生。宫颈组织中p53过度表达率与宫颈癌的进程有关,这在宫颈癌的防治方面有一定的临床意义。     

miR-375 targets the p53 gene to regulate cellular response to ionizing radiation and etoposide in gastric cancer cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) offer a new approach for molecular classification and individual therapy of human cancer due to their regulation of oncogenic pathways. In a previous report, elevated miR-375 was found in recurring gastric cancer, and it was predicted that miR-375 may be a regulator of p53 gene. However, its biological role and mechanism of actions remain unknown. In this study, we characterized the expression level of miR-375 in gastric cancer cell lines – BGC823, MGC803, SGC7901, AGS, N87, MKN45 – using RT-PCR. We found that exogenous expression of miR-375 promoted the growth of AGS cells in both liquid and soft agar media. In agreement with the previous report, overexpression of miR-375 in AGS cells reduced the p53 protein expression level. A luciferase assay demonstrated that miR-375 down-regulated p53 expression through an interaction with the 3′ UTR region of p53. In addition, the expression of miR-375 desensitizes cells to ionizing radiation and etoposide. Flow cytometry analyses showed that miR-375 abrogated the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis after DNA damage. These results demonstrate that miR-375 targets p53 to regulate the response to ionizing radiation and etoposide treatment.