title: Activin induces hepatocyte cell growth arrest through induction of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p15INK4B and Sp1.
abstract: In this report, we examined the role of activin in the regulation of cell growth inhibition of human hepatocarcinoma cells. Using RNase protection assay for various cell cycle regulators and Western blotting experiments, we show that activin treatment of HepG2 cells leads to increased gene expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI) p15INK4B. Furthermore, transient co-transfection studies of the p15INK4B promoter/luciferase construct performed in HepG2 cells demonstrates that activin induction of the p15INK4B promoter is mediated through the Smad pathway. p15INK4B gene promoter mapping analysis revealed a 66-bp region within the proximal domain of the promoter, which contains a consensus site for the transcription factor Sp1, as critical for mediating the activin effect on p15INK4B gene expression. Finally, gel mobility shift experiments, using the Sp1 consensus site, revealed increased DNA binding of Sp1 in response to activin treatment of HepG2 cells, further confirming the involvement of Sp1 in activin-mediated p15INK4B gene promoter activation. Together, our data indicates an important role for the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p15INK4B in activin-induced cell cycle arrest in liver cells.
authors.affiliation: Hormones and Cancer Research Unit, Department of Medicine, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada H3A 1A1.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Guise
authors.forename: Christie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lemay
authors.forename: Xiao-Fan
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jean-Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lebrun
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D050762:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins
chemical_list: C493966:CDKN2B protein, human; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D050762:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p15; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D028341:Activins