title: E2F1 suppresses skin carcinogenesis via the ARF-p53 pathway.
abstract: The E2F1 transcription factor, which is deregulated in most human cancers by mutations in the p16-cyclin D-Rb pathway, has both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive properties. This is dramatically illustrated by the phenotype of an E2F1 transgenic mouse model that spontaneously develops tumors in the skin and other epithelial tissues but is resistant to papilloma formation when subjected to a two-stage carcinogenesis protocol. Here, this E2F1 transgenic model was used to further explore the tumor-suppressive property of E2F1. Transgenic expression of E2F1 was found to inhibit ras-driven skin carcinogenesis at the promotion stage independent of the type of promoting agent used. E2F1 transgenic epidermis displayed increased expression of p19(ARF), p53, and p21(Cip1). Inactivation of either p53 or Arf in E2F1 transgenic mice restored sensitivity to two-stage skin carcinogenesis. While Arf inactivation impaired tumor suppression and p21 induction by E2F1, it did not reduce the level of apoptosis observed in E2F1 transgenic mice. Based on these findings, we propose that E2F1 suppresses ras-driven skin carcinogenesis through a nonapoptotic mechanism involving ARF and p53.
authors.affiliation: Department of Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park-Research Division, Smithville, TX 78957, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Weaks
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Berton
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006965:Hyperplasia; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000633:toxicity; D025803:Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; C493957:Cdkn1a protein, mouse; C417743:Cdkn2a protein, mouse; D019941:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D050687:E2F1 Transcription Factor; C493754:E2f1 protein, mouse; D025803:Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate