Expression profiles of p53 and p66shc during oxidative stress-induced senescence in fetal bovine fibroblasts.
Somatic cells undergo a permanent cell cycle arrest, called cellular senescence, after a limited number of cell divisions in vitro. Both the tumor suppressor protein p53 and the stress-response protein p66(shc) are suggested to regulate the molecular events associated with senescence. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of different oxygen tensions and oxidative stress on cell longevity and to establish the role of p53 and p66(shc) in cells undergoing senescence. As a model of cellular senescence, primary fetal bovine fibroblasts were cultured in either 20% O(2) or 5% O(2) atmospheres until senescence was reached. Fibroblasts cultured under 20% O(2) tension underwent senescence after 30 population doublings (PD), whereas fibroblasts cultured under 5% O(2) tension did not exhibit signs of senescence. Oxidative stress, as measured by protein carbonyl content, was significantly elevated in senescent cells compared to their younger counterparts and to fibroblasts cultured under 5% O(2) at the same PD. p53 mRNA gradually decreased in 20% O(2) cultured fibroblasts until senescence was reached, whereas p53 protein levels were significantly increased as well as p53 phosphorylation on serine 20, suggesting that p53 might be stabilized by posttranslational modifications during senescence. Senescence was also associated with high levels of p66(shc) mRNA and protein levels, while the levels remained low and stable in dividing fibroblasts under 5% O(2) atmosphere. Taken together, our results show an effect of oxidative stress on the replicative life span of fetal bovine fibroblasts as well as an involvement of p53, serine 20-p53 phosphorylation and p66(shc) in senescence.
Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1.
Laura A
LA
Favetta
Claude
C
Robert
W Allan
WA
King
Dean H
DH
Betts
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D033942:Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005333:Fetus; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012694:Serine / Q000378:metabolism; D055765:Shc Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D033942:Adaptor Proteins, Vesicular Transport; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055765:Shc Signaling Adaptor Proteins; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D012694:Serine; D010100:Oxygen