title: Role of IFI 16 in cellular senescence of human fibroblasts.
abstract: Defects in interferon (IFN) signaling that result in loss of expression of IFN-inducible proteins are associated with cellular immortalization, an important early event in the development of human cancer. Here we report that loss of IFN-inducible IFI 16 expression in human fibroblasts allows bypass of cellular senescence. We found that levels of IFI 16 mRNA and protein were higher in human old versus young fibroblasts and immortalization of fibroblasts with telomerase resulted in decreased expression of IFI 16. Moreover, overexpression of IFI 16 in immortalized fibroblasts strongly inhibited cell proliferation. Interestingly, knockdown of IFI 16 expression in fibroblasts inhibited p53-mediated transcription, downregulated p21(WAF1) expression, and extended the proliferation potential. Importantly, treatment of immortal cell lines with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, an inhibitor of DNA methyltransferase, resulted in upregulation of IFI 16. Our observations support the idea that increased levels of IFI 16 in older populations of human fibroblasts contribute to cellular senescence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, 2160 South First Avenue, Mail code 114B, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: Olivia M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Pereira-Smith
authors.forename: Divaker
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Choubey
mesh_terms: D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000502:physiology*; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000235:genetics; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C493956:CDKN1A protein, human; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C076700:IFI16 protein, human