title: Telomere shortening triggers senescence of human cells through a pathway involving ATM, p53, and p21(CIP1), but not p16(INK4a).
abstract: Cellular senescence can be triggered by telomere shortening as well as a variety of stresses and signaling imbalances. We used multiparameter single-cell detection methods to investigate upstream signaling pathways and ensuing cell cycle checkpoint responses in human fibroblasts. Telomeric foci containing multiple DNA damage response factors were assembled in a subset of senescent cells and signaled through ATM to p53, upregulating p21 and causing G1 phase arrest. Inhibition of ATM expression or activity resulted in cell cycle reentry, indicating that stable arrest requires continuous signaling. ATR kinase appears to play a minor role in normal cells but in the absence of ATM elicited a delayed G2 phase arrest. These pathways do not affect expression of p16, which was upregulated in a telomere- and DNA damage-independent manner in a subset of cells. Distinct senescence programs can thus progress in parallel, resulting in mosaic cultures as well as individual cells responding to multiple signals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Utz
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Herbig
authors.forename: Wendy A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Jobling
authors.forename: Benjamin P C
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sedivy
mesh_terms: D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016923:Cell Death / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000235:genetics*; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000235:genetics; D016195:G2 Phase / Q000235:genetics; D018816:Genes, cdc / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016615:Telomere / Q000235:genetics*; D035341:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D035341:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C576324:ATM protein, human; C576597:ATR protein, human; D064007:Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases