Role of p53 tumor suppressor gene and Fas/Apo-1 in induction of apoptosis and differentiation of cancer cells.
Recent studies have suggested that wild-type p53 blocks cell cycle progression near the G1-S boundary and is involved in both differentiation and apoptosis in many types of cells including cancer cells. p53 expression is enhanced upon DNA-damaging apoptotic stimuli while Fas/Apo-1, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family expressed on cell surface, transduces a signal for apoptosis upon specific ligand or antibody engagement. We demonstrated that stable transfection of the wild-type p53 gene under the control of CMV promoter induced differentiation and apoptosis under restricted conditions in cancer cells, and often caused sensitization of p53-transfected cells to Fas/Apo-1 signal. To investigate the interaction between two major apoptotic pathways involving p53 and Fas/Apo-1 we have established a system that allows to induce wild-type p53 overexpression and apoptosis in cancer cells upon treatment with anti-Fas antibody. The system also allows to investigate other factors interacting with p53 and Fas/Apo-1, and should provide a clue to understanding the biological and biochemical aspects of apoptosis.
Takahashi
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Department of Pathology and Tumor Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Japan.
D017209:Apoptosis; D002453:Cell Cycle; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004249:DNA Damage; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D017354:Point Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*
C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D019014:fas Receptor