Abrogation by c-myc of G1 phase arrest induced by RB protein but not by p53.

Inactivating mutations of the retinoblastoma gene (RB) are found in a wide variety of tumour cells. Replacement of wild-type RB can suppress the tumorigenicity of some of these cells, suggesting that the RB protein (Rb) may negatively regulate cell growth. As activation of c-myc expression promotes cell proliferation and blocks differentiation, it may positively regulate cell growth. The c-myc protein is localized in the nucleus and can physically associate with RB protein in vitro, hence c-myc may functionally antagonize RB function. Microinjection of Rb in G1 phase reversibly arrests cell-cycle progression. Here we co-inject RB protein with c-myc, EJ-ras, c-fos or c-jun protein. Co-injection of c-myc, but not EJ-ras, c-fos or c-jun, inhibits the ability of Rb to arrest the cell cycle. The c-myc does not inhibit the activity of another tumour supressor, p53 (ref. 12). Thus, c-myc and RB specifically antagonize one another in the cell.     

Role of Notch expression in premature senescence of murine bone marrow stromal cells

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of the Notch signaling pathway in premature senescence of murine bone marrow stromal cells in vitro. The intracellular domain of Notch 1 (ICN) was transfected into cultured murine bone marrow stromal cells by lipofectamine transfection. After three days, the proliferation of transfected cells was measured by MTT assay. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry. Senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-gal) was measured, and the percentage of positive cells was evaluated by assessing 1000 cells in random fields of view. The expressions of p53 and p21Cip1/Waf1 were analyzed by both RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. The results showed that activation of Notch signaling inhibited proliferation of murine bone marrow stromal cells with induction of G1 arrest, increased the percentage of SA-beta-gal positive cells, and upregulated p53 and p21Cip1/Waf1 mRNA and protein expression levels. Thus, the activated Notch signaling could induce premature senescence of bone marrow stromal cells through the p53-p21Cip1/Waf1 pathway.     

CyclinE反义RNA抑制乳腺癌细胞增殖及p21~(waf1)转录水平

利用反义RNA抑制基因表达的技术 ,发现cyclinE基因在表达受到抑制后 ,乳腺癌细胞增殖速率和致瘤性明显下降 ,结果还表明cyclinE基因的抑制 ,可使p2 1waf1的转录水平上升 ,由此说明cyclinE的异常与乳腺癌的发生有着密切的关系 ,在细胞周期调控上 p2 1waf1的转录受到cyclinE表达水平的明显影响 .     

Interferon-γ links ultraviolet radiation to melanomagenesis in mice

Cutaneous malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive and frequently chemoresistant cancer, the incidence of which continues to rise. Epidemiological studies show that the major aetiological melanoma risk factor is ultraviolet (UV) solar radiation, with the highest risk associated with intermittent burning doses, especially during childhood. We have experimentally validated these epidemiological findings using the hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor transgenic mouse model, which develops lesions in stages highly reminiscent of human melanoma with respect to biological, genetic and aetiological criteria, but only when irradiated as neonatal pups with UVB, not UVA. However, the mechanisms underlying UVB-initiated, neonatal-specific melanomagenesis remain largely unknown. Here we introduce a mouse model permitting fluorescence-aided melanocyte imaging and isolation following in vivo UV irradiation. We use expression profiling to show that activated neonatal skin melanocytes isolated following a melanomagenic UVB dose bear a distinct, persistent interferon response signature, including genes associated with immunoevasion. UVB-induced melanocyte activation, characterized by aberrant growth and migration, was abolished by antibody-mediated systemic blockade of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), but not type-I interferons. IFN-γ was produced by macrophages recruited to neonatal skin by UVB-induced ligands to the chemokine receptor Ccr2. Admixed recruited skin macrophages enhanced transplanted melanoma growth by inhibiting apoptosis; notably, IFN-γ blockade abolished macrophage-enhanced melanoma growth and survival. IFN-γ-producing macrophages were also identified in 70% of human melanomas examined. Our data reveal an unanticipated role for IFN-γ in promoting melanocytic cell survival/immunoevasion, identifying a novel candidate therapeutic target for a subset of melanoma patients.     

PML contributes to p53-independent p21 up-regulation in gamma-irradiation induced DNA damage responses

The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 WAF1/Cip1 is a critical cell cycle regulator which translocates into the nucleus to participate in DNA repair during DNA damage responses. In the present study, we showed that the tumor suppressor, promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) contributes to the up-regulation of p21 in a p53-independent pathway. Knock-down of PML in p53-null H1299 and HCT 116 (p53 –/– ) tumor cells by specific siRNA resulted in down-regulation of p21 protein expression, inhibition of -irradi...