Persistent p21Cip1 induction mediates G(1) cell cycle arrest by methylseleninic acid in DU145 prostate cancer cells.

Abstract

The induction of G(1) cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by second-generation selenium compounds (e.g., methylselenol precursors such as methylseleninic acid, MSeA) may contribute to their anti-cancer activities. We have documented previously induction of G(1) arrest and apoptosis by MSeA in association with upregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI) proteins p21Cip1 and/or p27Kip1 in DU145 prostate cancer cells. However, whether these CDKIs play a critical mediator role in G(1) arrest and apoptosis by MSeA has not been addressed. In the present work, we show exposure of p53-mutant DU145 cells to sub-apoptotic concentrations of MSeA induced p21cip1 mRNA (3 h) and protein (6 h) much faster than p27kip1 mRNA (12 h) and protein (12 h). Knocking down of p21 by siRNA completely abolished G(1) arrest induction by MSeA in DU145 cells, yet si-p27 RNA had no attenuation effect on the G(1) arrest. Depletion of p21Cip1 alone or both p21Cip1 and p27Kip1 increased MSeA-induced caspase-mediated apoptosis. Immunoprecipitation detected increased binding of p21Cip1 to CDK2 and CDK6 in MSeA-exposed DU145 cells. In DU145 xenografts from mice acutely treated with MSeA p.o., the induction of p21Cip1 was observed at 72 h of daily exposure. In p53-wild type LNCaP PCa cells and p53-null PC-3 PCa cells, MSeA modestly and transiently upregulated p21Cip1 protein level, subsiding to basal level by 24 h, without affecting P27Kip1 abundance in the same duration. Si-p21 RNA knockdown in these cells have only a partial effect to reverse G(1) arrest induction by MSeA. Together, our data support persistent, p53-independent, p21Cip1 induction as a critical mediator of MSeA-induced G(1) arrest in DU145 PCa cells, however, p21Cip1 induction and G(1) arrest were not necessary for, and may antagonize, caspase-mediated apoptosis.

• Authors: Zhe Wang, Hyo-Jeong Lee, Yubo Chai, Hongbo Hu, Lei Wang, Yong Zhang, Cheng Jiang, Junxuan Lü
• Journal: Current cancer drug targets (Curr Cancer Drug Targets) Vol. 10 Issue 3 Pg. 307-18 (May 2010) ISSN: 1873-5576 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 20370687 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• CDKN1A protein, human
• CDKN1B protein, human
• Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
• Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
• Organoselenium Compounds
• RNA, Messenger
• TP53 protein, human
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
• Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27
• methylselenic acid
• Cyclin-Dependent Kinases
• Caspases

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacology)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Caspases (metabolism)
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Cell Proliferation (drug effects)
• Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21 (genetics, metabolism)
• Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27
• Cyclin-Dependent Kinases (metabolism)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• G1 Phase (drug effects)
• Humans
• Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins (metabolism)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Mice, Nude
• Mutation
• Organoselenium Compounds (pharmacology)
• Prostatic Neoplasms (drug therapy, genetics, metabolism, pathology)
• RNA Interference
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Time Factors
• Transfection
• Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 (genetics)
• Up-Regulation
• Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays