Guy R. Adami

Agents that cause DNA double strand breaks lead to p16INK4a enrichment and the premature senescence of normal fibroblasts

The occurrence of DNA double strand breaks induces cell cycle arrest in mortal and immortal human cells. In normal, mortal fibroblasts this block to proliferation is permanent. It depends on the growth regulator p53 and a protein p53 induces, the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor, p21. We show here that following DNA damage in mortal fibroblasts, the induction of p21 and p53 is to a large degree shortlived. By 8 days after a brief exposure to DNA strand breaking agents, bleomycin or actinomycin D, p53 protein is at baseline levels, while the p53 transactivation level is only slightly above its baseline. By this time the concentration of p21 protein, which goes up as high as 100-fold shortly after treatment, is down to just 2–4-fold over baseline levels. Following the drop in p21 concentration a large increase in the expression level of the tumor suppressor gene p16INK4a is observed. This scenario, where a transient increase in p21 is followed by a delayed induction of p16INK4a, also happens with the permanent arrest that occurs with cellular senescence. In fact, these cells treated with agents that cause DNA double strand breaks share a number of additional markers with senescent cells. Our findings indicate that these cells are very similar to senescent cells and that they have additional factor(s) beside p21 and p53 that maintain cell cycle arrest.

The p48 subunit of the damaged-DNA binding protein DDB associates with the CBP/p300 family of histone acetyltransferase

DDB has been implicated in DNA repair as well as transcription. Mutations in DDB have been correlated with the repair-deficiency disease, xeroderma pigmentosum group E (XP-E). The XP-E cells exhibit deficiencies in global genomic repair, suggesting a role for DDB in that process. DDB also possesses a transcription stimulatory activity. We showed that DDB could function as a transcriptional partner of E2F1. But the mechanism by which DDB stimulates E2F-regulated transcription or carry out its DNA repair function is not understood. To investigate the mechanisms, we looked for nuclear proteins that interact with DDB. Here we show that DDB associates with the CBP/p300 family of proteins, in vivo and in vitro. We suggest that DDB participates in global genomic repair by recruiting CBP/p300 to the damaged-chromatin. It is possible that the histone acetyltransferase activities of the CBP/p300 proteins induce chromatin remodeling at the damaged-sites to allow recruitment of the repair complexes. The observation offers insights into both transcription and repair functions of DDB.

p21 Disrupts the interaction between cdk2 and the E2F-p130 complex.

In nonproliferating or growth-arrested cells, the transcription factor E2F remains bound to the retinoblastoma-related protein p130. Accumulation of this E2F-p130 complex correlates with an arrest of the cell cycle progression. Progression through G1 phase is associated with a cyclin-dependent binding of the cyclin-dependent kinase cdk2 to the E2F-p130 complex. By fractionating mouse L-cell extracts, we have obtained a partially purified preparation of the E2F-p130 complex that also contains cdk2. Incubation of this complex with recombinant p21 results in a disruption of the interaction between cdk2 and the E2F-p130 complex in extracts of a cell line that expresses a temperature-sensitive mutant of p53. Incubation at the permissive temperature (32 degrees C) results in an induction of p21 synthesis. An increase in the level of p21 in these cells correlates with a loss of cdk2 from the cdk2-containing E2F-p130 complex. We also show that the expression of a reporter gene containing E2F sites in the promoter region is reduced by the coexpression of p21. Since p21 is believed to be a mediator of p53, we speculated that the p21-mediated disruption of the cdk2-containing E2F-p130 complex plays a role in the growth suppression function of p53.

Permanent cell cycle arrest in asynchronously proliferating normal human fibroblasts treated with doxorubicin or etoposide but not camptothecin

Damage to DNA has been implicated in the induction of permanent cell cycle arrest or premature senescence in normal human fibroblasts. We tested the ability of a group of cancer chemotherapeutic agents or related compounds, which can cause DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) directly or indirectly, to induce a permanent cell cycle arrest in normal proliferating fibroblasts. A brief treatment with etoposide, doxorubicin, cisplatin, or phleomycin D1 induced a block to S phase entry sustained through 15 days. Lower levels of these drugs did not induce appreciable levels of transient cell cycle arrest. Higher concentrations caused cell death that lacked the DNA degradation characteristic of apoptosis. Camptothecin, an agent that causes DNA single-strand breaks, which are converted to DSBs during S phase, was able to induce an efficient, but only transient, cell cycle arrest in these normal cells. The cells did not enter S phase until after removal of the camptothecin. These findings support the idea that permanent cell cycle arrest and cell death are typical reactions of these normal cells to drugs that can cause DSBs. In addition, we report data consistent with the concept that both actinomycin D and doxorubicin are sequestered by cells and slowly released in active form. This is consistent with the observation that both these drugs bind reversibly to intracellular components.

Sustained hepatic expression of FoxM1B in transgenic mice has minimal effects on hepatocellular carcinoma development but increases cell proliferation rates in preneoplastic and early neoplastic lesions

Increased hepatic expression of the Forkhead transcription factor FoxM1B in adult mice accelerates hepatocyte proliferation after partial hepatectomy, while in hepatocytes in intact liver the transgenic (Tg) protein is inactive and has no effect on proliferation. To investigate the influence of FoxM1B on liver tumor formation, we examined the effect of sustained enrichment of FoxM1B in the hepatocytes of mice treated with a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)/phenobarbital tumor induction protocol. Tg enrichment of FoxM1B in hepatocytes did not increase the proliferation rate in normal liver tissue even when the protein was localized to the nucleus. However, it did cause an increase in the proliferation rate and size of preneoplastic and early neoplastic lesions, although having no effects on the total numbers of these lesions. As tumors progressed to hepatocellular carcinomas, the additional Tg FoxM1B protein had no effect on cell proliferation, and there was no increase in tumor burden compared to wild-type animals. This suggests that the artificial enrichment of FoxM1B in the liver, which has been suggested as a gene therapy protocol for liver dysfunction with aging, may not be tumorigenic in that organ.

RNA from brush oral cytology to measure squamous cell carcinoma gene expression

BACKGROUND RNA expression analysis of oral keratinocytes can be used to detect early stages of disease such as oral cancer or to monitor on-going treatment responses of the same or other oral diseases. A limitation is the inability to obtain high quality RNA from oral tissue without using biopsies. While oral cytology cell samples can be obtained from patients in a minimally invasive manner they have not been validated for quantitative analysis of RNA expression. METHODS As a starting point in the analysis of tumor markers in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), we examined RNA in brush cytology samples from hamsters treated with dibenzo[a,l]pyrene to induce oral carcinoma. Three separate samples from each animal were assessed for expression of candidate marker genes and control genes measured with real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS Brush oral cytology samples from normal mucosa were shown to consist almost exclusively of epithelial cells. Remarkably, ss-2 microglobulin and cytochrome p450, 1B1 (CYP1B1) RNA showed potential utility as markers of OSCC in samples obtained in this rapid and non-surgical manner. CONCLUSION Brush oral cytology may prove useful as a source of RNA for gene expression analysis during the progression of diseases of the oral epithelium such as OSCC.

Modification of the ATM/ATR directed DNA damage response state with aging and long after hepatocyte senescence induction in vivo

The cellular DNA damage response (DDR) entails the activation of ATM, ATR and/or DNA PK protein kinases that causes modifications of proteins including Chk1, Chk2 and 53BP1, aggregation of DDR proteins into foci, and activation of p53. The DDR is thought to be required for initiation and maintenance of cellular senescence. Potentially senescent cells with DNA damage foci occur in large numbers in vivo with many diseases, but, with the exception of mammalian dermis, there is little evidence for that with normal aging. After experimental induction of cellular senescence in the livers of juvenile mice, there was robust expression of DDR markers in hepatocytes at 1 week; however, by 7 weeks, activation of ATM/ATR kinase targets was limited, although cells with DNA damage foci were present. An analysis of hepatocytes of aged, 22-month-old mice, not experimentally exposed to genotoxins, showed limited activation of ATM/ATR targets, though high numbers of cells with DNA damage foci were found, similar to that seen many weeks after artificial senescence induction in young mice. Based on senescence heterochromatin and SA ss Gal assays of the 22-month-old mouse liver, more than 20% of hepatocytes were potentially senescent, though only some components of the DDR were enriched.

Analysis of RNA from brush cytology detects changes in B2M, CYP1B1 and KRT17 levels with OSCC in tobacco users

RNA expression analysis of oral keratinocytes can be used to detect early oral cancer, but a limitation is the inability to obtain high quality RNA from oral tissue without using biopsies. While oral cytology cell samples can be obtained from patients in a minimally invasive manner, they have not been validated for quantitative analysis of RNA expression. Earlier we showed RNA from brush cytology of hamster Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) demonstrated differential expression of B2M and CYP1B1 using real time RT-PCR in a dibenz[a,I]pyrene, tobacco carcinogen, induced model of this disease. Here we show reproducibility of this approach to measuring gene expression in humans. Cytology brush samples from 12 tobacco and betel related OSCC and 17 nonmalignant oral lesions revealed B2M mRNA was enriched in tumor samples while CYP1B1 mRNA was reduced, similar to what was seen in the model system. Additionally, we showed that KRT17 mRNA, a gene linked to OSCC in another brush cytology study, was also enriched in OSCC versus nonmalignant lesions, again supporting the promise of using RNA from brush oral cytology to reproducibly monitor oral gene expression.

P19ARF inhibits the functions of the HPV16 E7 oncoprotein

The E7 oncoprotein encoded by high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a significant role in the development of HPV-related cancers. E7 is a potent stimulator of S phase and host DNA replication. These functions of E7 are linked to the deregulation of the Rb family of proteins. For example, E7 binds and induces proteolysis of Rb through the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. Despite advances in our understanding of E7, reagents that inhibit E7 with promise in therapy have not been developed or identified. Here, we provide evidence that the tumor suppressor ARF can inhibit E7. We show that the expression of ARF causes a relocalization of E7 from the nucleoplasm to the nucleolus. Two distinct regions in ARF overlapping with the MDM2-binding sites are necessary for the relocalization of E7. Furthermore, we show that ARF blocks the proteolysis of Rb induced by E7. In addition, ARF expression inhibits DNA replication induced by E7. Although it is not known whether the endogenous ARF, which is expressed at a low level, interferes with E7, our results suggest that ARF is an effective inhibitor of E7. We speculate that ARF or an ARF-derived molecule might have a significant impact in therapy against HPV-related tumors.

Analysis of doxorubicin in cell culture media and human plasma using solid phase extraction and HPLC

SummaryDoxorubicin is an antineoplastic antibiotic isolated fromStreptomyces peucetius var.cesius clinically used in the treatment of tumors such as lung or breast, Hodgkins disease and various types of leukemias. The main goal of this study was to develop a simple and sensitive HPLC method with fluorescence detection for the quantitation of doxorubicin in cell culture media collected during an in vitro studies and in human plasma. Solid phase extraction (C2 silica) was applied. The experiment established five-point standard curve (1 ng mL−1 to 100 ng mL−1). The standard curves prepared in blank cell tissue media were linear over the range of doxorubicin assayed and had a mean correlation coefficient of 0.9973±9.43×10−4 and slope 0.02545±1.85×10−3. The standard curves prepared in human plasma were linear and had mean correlation coefficient of 0.997 and slope 0.01885±5.19×10−4. The limit of quantitation for doxorubicin in both specimens was arbitrarily established to be 1 ng mL−1. Intra-day variabilities were determined using 3–4 replicates of control solutions of doxorubicin (3 ng mL−1 and 30 ng mL−1) in blank plasma and cell culture media. Inter-day variabilities were determined over a four day period analyzing replicates of controls. All precision and accuracy values fell within the acceptable range.