title: p53, p21(WAF1/CIP1), and MDM2 involvement in the proliferation and apoptosis in an in vitro model of conditionally immortalized human vascular smooth muscle cells.
abstract: Using an in vitro model of a conditionally immortalized cell line, we have investigated how human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are affected by the expression of simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen (LT antigen), which binds to cell cycle regulators such as the tumor suppressor protein p53. Cells were obtained after infection of saphenous vein-derived VSMCs with a nonreplicative retroviral vector containing a temperature-sensitive mutant of SV40 LT antigen and were shown to have maintained some characteristics and responses of VSMCs. Under permissive-temperature conditions (36 degrees C), the increased rate of cell proliferation was shown to be associated with expression of LT antigen and with LT antigen binding to and inactivation of p53. p53 inactivation failed to block apoptosis induced by serum withdrawal or UV irradiation. Downregulation of LT antigen expression at a nonpermissive temperature (39 degrees C) was shown to be associated with growth arrest, increased expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1), increased murine double minute-2 promoter activity, and differential expression of murine double minute-2 gene products, suggesting that p53-induced transcription/transactivation may be involved in VSMC cycle control but not necessarily in apoptosis. The established SMC line HVTs-SM1 may be a useful model for study of the processes involved in myointimal hyperplasia and cellular aging, as well as for the study of cell cycle control in general.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College of Science, Technology, and Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kletsas
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Clunn
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schachter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Demoliou-Mason
mesh_terms: D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D017209:Apoptosis; D002455:Cell Division; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002470:Cell Survival; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000502:physiology*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology*; D009154:Mutation; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2; D012501:Saphenous Vein; D014162:Transfection; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000502:physiology*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000952:Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C497206:MDM2 protein, human; D051736:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2