Immortalization of human mammary epithelial cells is associated with inactivation of the p14ARF-p53 pathway

Mol Cell Biol. 2004 Mar;24(5):2144-52. doi: 10.1128/MCB.24.5.2144-2152.2004.

Abstract

Inactivation of the ARF-p53 tumor suppressor pathway leads to immortalization of murine fibroblasts. The role of this pathway in immortalization of human epithelial cells is not clear. We analyzed the functionality of the p14(ARF)-p53 pathway in human mammary epithelial cells (MEC) immortalized by human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) E6, the p53 degradation-defective E6 mutant Y54D, or hTERT. E6-MEC or E6Y54D-MEC maintains high-level expression of p14(ARF). Late-passage hTERT-immortalized MEC express p53 but down-regulate p14(ARF). Enforced expression of p14(ARF) induces p53-dependent senescence in hTERT-MEC, while both E6-MEC and E6Y54D-MEC are resistant. We show that E6Y54D inhibits p14(ARF)-induced activation of p53 without inactivation of the p53-dependent DNA damage response. Hence, p53 degradation and inhibition of p14(ARF) signaling to p53 are independent functions of HPV16 E6. Our observations imply that long-term proliferation of MEC requires inactivation of the p14(ARF)-p53 pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cellular Senescence
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / genetics
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 / metabolism
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Cyclins / genetics
  • Cyclins / metabolism
  • DNA Damage
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Humans
  • Mammary Glands, Human / anatomy & histology*
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / genetics
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins*
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Telomerase / genetics
  • Telomerase / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF / metabolism*
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism*

Substances

  • CDKN1A protein, human
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16
  • Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21
  • Cyclins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p14ARF
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Telomerase