title: Inhibition of radiation-induced apoptosis by dexamethasone in cervical carcinoma cell lines depends upon increased HPV E6/E7.
abstract: Through a glucocorticoid-responsive promoter, glucocorticoids can regulate the transcription of the human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 viral genes which target the tumour suppressor proteins p53 and Rb respectively. In C4-1 cells, the glucocorticoid dexamethasone up-regulated HPV E6/E7 mRNA and decreased radiation-induced apoptosis. In contrast, dexamethasone had no effect on apoptosis of cells that either lack the HPV genome (C33-a) or in which HPV E6/E7 transcription is repressed by dexamethasone (SW756). Irradiated C4-1 cells showed increased p53 expression, while dexamethasone treatment prior to irradiation decreased p53 protein expression. In addition, p21 mRNA was regulated by irradiation and dexamethasone in accordance with the observed changes in p53. Overall, glucocorticoids decreased radiation-induced apoptosis in cervical carcinoma cells which exhibit increased HPV E6/E7 transcription and decreased p53 expression. Therefore, in HPV-infected cervical epithelial cells, p53-dependent apoptosis appears to depend upon the levels of HPV E6/E7 mRNA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kamradt
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohideen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Krueger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Vaughan
mesh_terms: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D015153:Blotting, Western; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; C118860:E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 6; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C062495:oncogene protein E7, Human papillomavirus type 6; D003907:Dexamethasone