Abnormal proliferation signals, driven by cellular or viral oncogenes, can result in the induction of apoptosis under sub-optimal cell growth conditions. The tumor suppressor p53 plays a central role in mediating oncogene-induced apoptosis, therefore transformed cells lacking p53 are generally resistant to apoptosis-promoting treatments. In a previous work we have reported that the expression of polyomavirus large T antigen causes apoptosis in differentiating myoblasts and that this phenomenon is dependent on the onset of muscle differentiation in the absence of a correct cell cycle arrest. Here we report that polyomavirus large T increases the levels and activity of p53, but these alterations are not involved in the apoptotic mechanism. Apoptosis in polyomavirus large T-expressing myoblasts is not prevented by the expression of a p53 dominant-negative mutant nor it is increased by p53 overexpression. Moreover, forced differentiation induced through the over-expression of the muscle regulatory factor MyoD, leads to apoptosis without altering p53 function and, more significantly, even in a p53-null background. Our results indicate that apoptosis induced by the activation of muscle differentiation pathways in oncogene-expressing cells can occur in a p53-independent manner.
p53-independent apoptosis induced by muscle differentiation stimuli in polyomavirus large T-expressing myoblasts / V., Gottifredi; A., Peschiaroli; G. M., Fimia; Maione, Rossella. - In: JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE. - ISSN 0021-9533. - 112:14(1999), pp. 2397-2407.
p53-independent apoptosis induced by muscle differentiation stimuli in polyomavirus large T-expressing myoblasts
G. M. Fimia;MAIONE, Rossella
1999
Abstract
Abnormal proliferation signals, driven by cellular or viral oncogenes, can result in the induction of apoptosis under sub-optimal cell growth conditions. The tumor suppressor p53 plays a central role in mediating oncogene-induced apoptosis, therefore transformed cells lacking p53 are generally resistant to apoptosis-promoting treatments. In a previous work we have reported that the expression of polyomavirus large T antigen causes apoptosis in differentiating myoblasts and that this phenomenon is dependent on the onset of muscle differentiation in the absence of a correct cell cycle arrest. Here we report that polyomavirus large T increases the levels and activity of p53, but these alterations are not involved in the apoptotic mechanism. Apoptosis in polyomavirus large T-expressing myoblasts is not prevented by the expression of a p53 dominant-negative mutant nor it is increased by p53 overexpression. Moreover, forced differentiation induced through the over-expression of the muscle regulatory factor MyoD, leads to apoptosis without altering p53 function and, more significantly, even in a p53-null background. Our results indicate that apoptosis induced by the activation of muscle differentiation pathways in oncogene-expressing cells can occur in a p53-independent manner.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.