title: p53-independent induction of p21(waf1/cip1) contributes to the activation of caspases in GTP-depletion-induced apoptosis of insulin-secreting cells.
abstract: We investigated the role of some key regulators of cell cycle in the activation of caspases during apoptosis of insulin-secreting cells after sustained depletion of GTP by a specific inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase inhibitor, mycophenolic acid (MPA). p21(Waf1/Cip1) was significantly increased following MPA treatment, an event closely correlated with the time course of caspase activation under the same conditions. MPA-induced p21(Waf1/Cip1) was not mediated by p53, since p53 mass was gradually reduced over time of MPA treatment. The increment of p21(Waf1/Cip1) by MPA was further enhanced in the presence of a pan-caspase inhibitor, indicating that the increased p21(Waf1/Cip1) may occur prior to caspase activation. This notion of association of p21(Waf1/Cip1) accumulation with caspase activation and apoptosis was substantiated by using mimosine, a selective p21(Waf1/Cip1) inducer independent of p53. Mimosine, like MPA, also increased p21(Waf1/Cip1), promoted apoptosis and simultaneously increased the activity of caspases. Furthermore, knocking down of p21(Waf1/Cip1) transfection of siRNA duplex inhibited caspase activation and apoptosis due to GTP depletion. In contrast to p21(Waf1/Cip1), a reduction in p27(Kip1) occurred in MPA-treated cells. These results indicate that p21(Waf1/Cip1) may act as an upstream signal to block mitogenesis and activate caspases which in turn contribute to induction of apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Institute, National University Medical Institutes, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: J X
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Metz
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D016213:Cyclins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D008898:Mimosine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000378:metabolism*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D061945:Caspase Inhibitors; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D050760:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27; D008898:Mimosine; D006160:Guanosine Triphosphate; D020169:Caspases; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid