p53-dependent apoptosis induced by proteasome inhibition in mammary epithelial cells

We have examined the effects of inhibition of the 26S proteasome in a murine mammary cell line, KIM-2 cells using the peptide aldehyde inhibitor MG132. These studies have demonstrated a clear requirement for proteasome function in cell viability. Induction of apoptosis was observed following MG132 treatment in KIM-2 cells and this death was shown to be dependent on the cell actively traversing the cell cycle. KIM-2 cells were generated using a temperature sensitive T-antigen (Tag) and studies at the permissive temperature (33 degrees C) have shown that a Tag binding protein was essential for this apoptotic response. Studies in two additional cell lines, HC11, which is a mammary epithelial cell line carrying mutant p53 alleles and p53 null ES cells suggest that p53 is actively required for the apoptosis induced as a consequence of proteasome inhibition. These results suggest a pivotal role for the 26S proteasome degradation pathway in progression through the cell cycle in proliferating cells.     

Cadmium induces p53-dependent apoptosis in human prostate epithelial cells

Cadmium, a widespread toxic pollutant of occupational and environmental concern, is a known human carcinogen. The prostate is a potential target for cadmium carcinogenesis, although the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Furthermore, cadmium may induce cell death by apoptosis in various cell types, and it has been hypothesized that a key factor in cadmium-induced malignant transformation is acquisition of apoptotic resistance. We investigated the in vitro effects produced by cadmium exposure in normal or tumor cells derived from human prostate epithelium, including RWPE-1 and its cadmium-transformed derivative CTPE, the primary adenocarcinoma 22Rv1 and CWR-R1 cells and LNCaP, PC-3 and DU145 metastatic cancer cell lines. Cells were treated for 24 hours with different concentrations of CdCl(2) and apoptosis, cell cycle distribution and expression of tumor suppressor proteins were analyzed. Subsequently, cellular response to cadmium was evaluated after siRNA-mediated p53 silencing in wild type p53-expressing RWPE-1 and LNCaP cells, and after adenoviral p53 overexpression in p53-deficient DU145 and PC-3 cell lines. The cell lines exhibited different sensitivity to cadmium, and 24-hour exposure to different CdCl(2) concentrations induced dose- and cell type-dependent apoptotic response and inhibition of cell proliferation that correlated with accumulation of functional p53 and overexpression of p21 in wild type p53-expressing cell lines. On the other hand, p53 silencing was able to suppress cadmium-induced apoptosis. Our results demonstrate that cadmium can induce p53-dependent apoptosis in human prostate epithelial cells and suggest p53 mutation as a possible contributing factor for the acquisition of apoptotic resistance in cadmium prostatic carcinogenesis.     

Pituitary tumor transforming gene causes aneuploidy and p53-dependent and p53-independent apoptosis

The pituitary tumor transforming gene, PTTG, is abundantly expressed in several neoplasms. We recently showed that PTTG overexpression is associated with apoptosis and therefore have now studied the role of p53 in this process. In MCF-7 breast cancer cells that express wild type p53, PTTG overexpression caused apoptosis. p53 was translocated to the nuclei in cells expressing PTTG. Overexpression of p53, along with PTTG, augmented apoptosis, whereas expression of the human papillomavirus E6 protein inhibited PTTG-induced apoptosis. In MG-63 osteosarcoma cells that are deficient in p53, PTTG caused cell cycle arrest and subsequent apoptosis that was inhibited by caspase inhibitors. A proteasome inhibitor augmented PTTG expression in stable PTTG transfectants, suggesting that down-regulated PTTG expression is required for cell survival. Finally, MG-63 cells expressing PTTG showed signs of aneuploidy including the presence of micronuclei and multiple nuclei. These results indicate that PTTG overexpression causes p53-dependent and p53-independent apoptosis. In the absence of p53, PTTG causes aneuploidy. These results may provide a mechanism for PTTG-induced tumorigenesis whereby PTTG mediates aneuploidy and subsequent cell transformation.     

Epithelial cells of different organs exhibit distinct patterns of p53-dependent and p53-independent apoptosis following DNA insult.

The present study shows that DNA damage induces different patterns of p53-dependent and p53-independent apoptosis in epithelial cells of various organs of adult mice. Genotoxic stress induced a biphasic apoptotic response in the small intestine and tongue. While the first immediate apoptotic wave was p53-dependent, the second was slower in rate and was p53-independent. Under the same experimental conditions a single rapid, but a more extended, p53-independent response was evident in the skin of the tail. Indeed, exposure of p53+/+ mice to 400 R induced in epithelium of the small intestine and tongue an immediate rapid response that was followed by a second delayed p53-independent apoptotic wave. p53-/- mice exhibited in these organs the second wave only. However, epithelium of the tail derived from the same mice showed a single rapid apoptotic response that lasted much longer than the p53-dependent response and was similar in the p53-/- and the p53+/+ mice. Variations in apoptotic patterns observed in epithelial cells derived of the different tissues may point to differences in the physiological pathways expressed.     

p53 represses the polyploidization of primary mammary epithelial cells by activating apoptosis

Tetraploidy may constitute a metastable state leading to numeric and structural chromosome abnormalities that are associated with cancer. Here, we show that cultured primary p53-/- (but not wild type, WT) mouse mammary epithelial cells (MMECs) accumulate a tetraploid sub-population in vitro. This occurs spontaneously, yet can be exacerbated by the addition of microtubule inhibitors as well as of inhibitors of cytokinesis. As compared to WT cells, tetraploid p53-/- MMECs contain supernumerary centrosomes and exhibit a reduced propensity to initiate the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Moreover, tetraploid p53-/- MMECs are more resistant against anthracyclin-induced cell killing than their diploid counterparts. Altogether, these data indicate that p53 normally suppresses the generation of tetraploid cells, presumably by activating the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis. In the absence of p53, tetraploid cells accumulate as a result of inhibited apoptosis, which contributes to the acquisition of chemotherapy resistance.     

Camptothecin induces p53-dependent and -independent apoptogenic signaling in melanoma cells

Various DNA-targeting agents may initiate p53-dependent as well as p53-independent response and subsequent apoptosis via alternative cellular systems which include for instance p73, caspase-2 or Bcl-2 family proteins. The scope of involvement of individual molecules in this process and the mechanisms governing their potential interplay are still not entirely understood, in particular in highly aggressive cancers such as in malignant melanoma. In this work we investigated the role and involvement of both p53-dependent and -independent mechanisms in selected melanoma cell lines with differing status of p53 using a model DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin (CPT). Here we report that CPT induced in Bowes melanoma cells apoptosis which is essentially p53 and mitochondria-dependent but with some involvement of caspase-2 and p73. Conversely, in mutant p53 melanoma cells overall levels of CPT-induced apoptosis are significantly lower, with p73 and caspase-2 signaling playing important roles. In addition, in these cells the expression of micro RNAs family 34 (miR-34) were low compared to wild-type p53 cells. The ectopic expression of wild type p53 than restored apoptotic response of cells to CPT despite the fact that the expression of miR-34 and miR-155 were not influenced. These results suggest that CPT induces multivariate cellular stress responses including activation of DNA-damage response-p53 pathway as well as p53-independent signaling and their mutual crosstalk play the decisive role in the efficient triggering of apoptosis in melanoma cells.     

A gain of function p53 mutant promotes both genomic instability and cell survival in a novel p53-null mammary epithelial cell model.

Approximately 40% of human breast cancers contain alterations in the tumor suppressor p53. The p53 172R-H gain-of-function mutant (equivalent to the common 175R-H human breast cancer mutant) has been shown to promote aneuploidy and tumorigenesis in the mammary gland in transgenic mice and may affect genomic stability in part by causing centrosome abnormalities. The precise mechanism of action of these gain-of-function mutants is not well understood, and has been studied primarily in fibroblast cell lines. A novel p53-null mouse mammary epithelial cell line developed from p53-null mice has been used in adenovirus-mediated transient transfection experiments to study the properties of this p53 mutant. Marked centrosome amplification and an increased frequency of aberrant mitoses were observed within 72 h of introduction of p53 172R-H. However, few cells with aberrant centrosome numbers were observed in cells stably expressing the p53 172R-H mutant. Furthermore, stable expression of this p53 mutant reduced both basal and DNA damage-induced apoptosis. This result may be mediated in part through abrogation of p73 function. The p53 172R-H mutant, therefore, appears to influence tumorigenesis at the molecular level in two distinct ways: promoting the development of aneuploidy in cells while also altering their apoptotic response after DNA damage.     

p53-independent pRB degradation contributes to a drug-induced apoptosis in AGS cells

The retinoblastoma （RB） tumor suppressor protein, pRB, plays an important role in the regulation of mammalian cell cycle. Furthermore, several lines of evidence suggest that pRB also involves in the regulation of apoptosis. In the present study, the degradation of pRB was observed in apoptotic gastric tumor cells treated with a new potent anti-tumor component, tripchlorolide （TC）. The inhibition of pRB degradation by a general cysteine protease inhibitor IDAM resulted in the reduction of the apoptotic cells. Furthermore, the survival of the gastric tumor cells under the TC treatment was enhanced by an over-expression of exogenous pRB. These results suggest that the pRB degradation of the gastric tumor cells under the TC treatment involves in the apoptotic progression. In addition, the same extent of TCinduced pRB-degradation was detected in the gastric tumor cells containing a p53 dominant-negative construct, indicat- ing that this kind of pRB degradation is p53-independent.     

ErbB2 overexpression in p53-inactivated mammary epithelial cells

Functional loss of p53 and ErbB2 overexpression are the frequent genetic alterations in human breast carcinomas. Here, we found that ErbB2 expression was upregulated in primary cultured mammary epithelial cells (MECs) isolated from mice with a defect in exons 5 and 6 of the p53 gene (p53(Delta5,6)). The reporter gene activity in the p53(Delta5,6) MECs transfected with the -756bp flanking region of the hErbB2 gene was higher than the wild type MECs. p53 inactivation selectively increased the level of AP-2alpha, but not AP-2beta and AP-2gamma and a mutation of the two AP-2 binding sites completely inhibited the reporter activity.     

p53-dependent acinar cell apoptosis triggers epithelial proliferation in duct-ligated murine pancreas

The mechanisms linking acinar cell apoptosis and ductal epithelial proliferation remain unknown. To determine the relationship between these events, pancreatic duct ligation (PDL) was performed on p53(+/+) and p53(-/-) mice. In mice bearing a wild-type p53 allele, PDL resulted in upregulation of p53 protein in both acinar cells and proliferating duct-like epithelium. In contrast, upregulation of Bcl-2 occurred only in duct-like epithelium. Both p21(WAF1/CIP1) and Bax were also upregulated in duct-ligated lobes. After PDL in p53(+/+) mice, acinar cells underwent widespread apoptosis, while duct-like epithelium underwent proliferative expansion. In the absence of p53, upregulation of p53 target genes and acinar cell apoptosis did not occur. The absence of acinar cell apoptosis in p53(-/-) mice also eliminated the proliferative response to duct ligation. These data demonstrate that PDL-induced acinar cell apoptosis is a p53-dependent event and suggest a direct link between acinar cell apoptosis and proliferation of duct-like epithelium in duct-ligated pancreas.     

Glycerol restores heat-induced p53-dependent apoptosis of human glioblastoma cells bearing mutant p53

Background  

We have previously reported that glycerol acts as a chemical chaperone to restore the expression of WAF1 in some human cancer cell lines bearing mutant p53. Since the expression of WAF1 is up-regulated by activated wildtype p53, glycerol appears to restore wtp53 function. The aim of the present study is to examine the restoration of heat-induced p53-dependent apoptosis by glycerol in human glioblastoma cells (A-172) transfected with a vector carrying a mutant p53 gene (A-172/mp53 cells) or neo control vector (A-172/neo cells).     

EGF stimulates Mg influx in mammary epithelial cells

Magnesium is well established as a fundamental factor that regulates cell proliferation. However, the molecular mechanisms linking mitogenic signals, extracellular magnesium availability and intracellular effectors are still largely unknown. In the present study we sought to determine whether EGF regulates magnesium homeostasis in normal HC11 mammary epithelial cells. To this end, we measured Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ fluxes by confocal imaging in live cells loaded with specific fluorescent ion indicators (Mag-Fluo-4 and Fluo-4, respectively).     

Emodin-induced apoptosis through p53-dependent pathway in human hepatoma cells

Most of the commonly used cytotoxic anticancer drugs have been shown to induce apoptosis in susceptible cells. However, the signaling pathway of their apoptotic effects remains undefined. In this study, the cytotoxic effect of emodin on various human hepatoma cell lines was investigated. Results demonstrated that emodin exhibited strongly suppressing effect on HepG2/C3A, PLC/PRF/5, and SK-HEP-1 cells, with the IC(50) value of 42.5, 46.6, and 53.1 microM, respectively. Furthermore, emodin induced apoptosis in HepG2/C3A cells was clearly verified by the appearance of DNA fragmentation and sub-G(1) accumulation. Besides, HepG2/C3A cells were found to be arrested in G(2)/M phase after the cells were treated with 60 microM emodin for 48 h. Moreover, significant increase in the levels of apoptosis-related signals such as p53 (419.3 pg/ml), p21 (437.4 units/ml), Fas (6.6 units/ml), and caspase-3 (35.4 pmol/min) were observed in emodin treated HepG2/C3A cells. Taken together, emodin displays effective inhibitory effects on the growth of various human hepatoma cell lines and stimulates the expression of p53 and p21 that resulted in the cell cycle arrest of HepG2/C3A cells at G(2)/M phase. Results also suggest that emodin-induced apoptosis in HepG2/C3A cells were mediated through the activation of p53, p21, Fas/APO-1, and caspase-3. It implies that emodin could be a useful chemotherapeutical agent for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).     

p53DINP1, a p53-inducible gene, regulates p53-dependent apoptosis

Using the differential display method combined with a cell line that carries a well-controlled expression system for wild-type p53, we isolated a p53-inducible gene, termed p53DINP1 (p53-dependent damage-inducible nuclear protein 1). Cell death induced by DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), as well as Ser46 phosphorylation of p53 and induction of p53AIP1, were blocked when we inhibited expression of p53DINP1 by means of an antisense oligonucleotide. Overexpression of p53DINP1 and DNA damage by DSBs synergistically enhanced Ser46 phosphorylation of p53, induction of p53AIP1 expression, and apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, the protein complex interacting with p53DINP1 was shown to phosphorylate Ser46 of p53. Our results suggest that p53DINP1 may regulate p53-dependent apoptosis through phosphorylation of p53 at Ser46, serving as a cofactor for the putative p53-Ser46 kinase.     

Genome-wide RNAi identifies p53-dependent and -independent regulators of germ cell apoptosis in C. elegans

We used genome-wide RNA interference (RNAi) to identify genes that affect apoptosis in the C. elegans germ line. RNAi-mediated knockdown of 21 genes caused a moderate to strong increase in germ cell death. Genetic epistasis studies with these RNAi candidates showed that a large subset (16/21) requires p53 to activate germ cell apoptosis. Apoptosis following knockdown of the genes in the p53-dependent class also depended on a functional DNA damage response pathway, suggesting that these genes might function in DNA repair or to maintain genome integrity. As apoptotic pathways are conserved, orthologues of the worm germline apoptosis genes presented here could be involved in the maintenance of genomic stability, p53 activation, and fertility in mammals.