Academic literature on the topic 'P15/INK4b'

ABSTRACT The cell cycle inhibitor p15 INK4b is frequently inactivated by homozygous deletion together with p16 INK4a and p19 ARF in some types of tumors. Although the tumor suppressor capability of p15 INK4b is still questioned, it has been found to be specifically inactivated by hypermethylation in hematopoietic malignancies in the absence of p16 INK4a alterations. Here we show that, in vitro, p15 INK4b is a strong inhibitor of cellular transformation by Ras. Surprisingly, p15 INK4b is induced in cultured cells by oncogenic Ras to an extent similar to that of p16 INK4a , and their expression is associated with premature G1 arrest and senescence. Ras-dependent induction of these two INK4 genes is mediated mainly by the Raf-Mek-Erk pathway. Studies with activated and dominant negative forms of Ras effectors indicate that the Raf-Mek-Erk pathway is essential for induction of both the p15 INK4b and p16 INK4a promoters, although other Ras effector pathways can collaborate, giving rise to a stronger response. Our results indicate that p15 INK4b , by itself, is able to stop cell transformation by Ras and other oncogenes such as Rgr (a new oncogene member of the Ral-GDS family, whose action is mediated through Ras). In fact, embryonic fibroblasts isolated from p15 INK4b knockout mice are susceptible to transformation by the Ras or Rgr oncogene whereas wild-type embryonic fibroblasts are not. Similarly, p15 INK4b -deficient mouse embryo fibroblasts are more sensitive than wild-type cells to transformation by a combination of the Rgr and E1A oncogenes. The cell cycle inhibitor p15 INK4b is therefore involved, at least in some cell types, in the tumor suppressor activity triggered after inappropriate oncogenic Ras activation in the cell.

Abstract The chromosomal translocation (8;21) results in the expression of the chimeric transcription factor AML1/ETO, the most frequent fusion gene in acute myeloid leukemia. The AML1/ETO fusion protein acts as a transcriptional repressor by mediating epigenetic silencing through recruitment of histone deacetylases. Recently, it was shown that it also mediates gene silencing by associating with DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt). We therefore hypothesized that cells expressing AML1/ETO might be preferentially sensitive to the effects of an inhibitor of Dnmt activity, and might provide a superior model for in vitro demethylation and reactivation of the promoter of the p15/INK4b gene (encoding a negative regulator of the cell cycle) that is frequently methylated and silenced in AML and MDS. The 3 myeloid cell lines Kasumi-1 cells (AML1/ETO-positive), KG-1, and KG-1a (both AML1-ETO-negative) are all bearing a heavily methylated p15/INK4b promoter. They were treated with 50 – 1000 nM 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (DAC) for three pulses of 24 hrs each. After 6 days, cell growth and viability were determined and FACS analysis performed after propidium iodide staining. Kasumi-1 showed the highest sensitivity to DAC treatment (growth inhibition at 500 nM DAC: Kasumi-1 74.28 %, KG-1 69.16 %, KG-1a 62.38 %). In addition, DAC treatment (500 nM) led to a stronger increase in the sub-G1 fraction in Kasumi-1 (30.46%) compared to KG-1a (20.84 %). Regional p15/INK4b promoter methylation was assessed quantitatively by bisulfite sequencing of ≤10 individual cloned alleles (containing 21 CpGs residues) for calculation of methylated CpG percentage. The p15/INK4b was highly methylated in all 3 cell lines (methylated CpGs Kasumi-1 95.2 %; KG-1 89.6 %; KG-1a 98.4 % ). In Kasumi-1 cells, treatment with DAC resulted in a striking, dose-dependent regional demethylation of the p15/INK4b promoter (demethylated CpGs at 200 nM of DAC: Kasumi-1 63.8 %, KG-1 48.9 %, KG-1a 9.3 %). No demethylating effect was achieved with equitoxic doses of cytarabine or melphalan. Effective demethylation of the p15/INK4b promoter was associated with p15/INK4b protein induction as determined by Western Blot. Simultaneous treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) enhanced the effects of DAC treatment upon growth inhibition, but not upon p15/INK4b induction. U937 cells with ecdysone inducible AML1/ETO expression (Fliegauf et al, Oncogene 2004) were also treated with different doses of DAC. When AML1/ETO was induced, U937 cells showed a higher growth inhibition (U937 + AML1/ETO 38.6 %, U937 - AML1/ETO 18 % at 25 nM) and increase in Sub-G1 (U937 + AML1/ETO 18 %, U937 - AML1/ETO 10.55 % at 100 nM) after treatment with DAC. Our results imply that the growth-inhibitory and proapoptotic effect of DAC on leukemia cells is modulated by AML1/ETO protein (or its target genes). The greater accessibility of the p15/INK4b promoter to the demethylating effect of DAC in AML1/ETO expressing Kasumi-1 cells may also be due to differences in regional chromatin structure. With their differential sensitivity to DAC, the cell lines Kasumi-1 and KG-1a provide a model for the different responses of leukemic blasts to DAC.

Abstract Background: Decitabine, reverts hypermethylation of p15INK4B gene in vitro, was used to improves cytopenias and blast excess in over 50% of patients with high-risk myelodys plastic syndrome (MDS). In this study, over-expression of Heme Oxygenase-1(HO-1) was found in MDS cells line SKM-1 cells, and it was closely related to resistance to apoptosis induced by decitabine. Objective: we aimed to further investigated what role of HO-1 exactly played in apoptosis induced by low-does of decitabine in MDS. Method: CCK-8 kits was used to determine the proliferation inhibition of SKM-1 cells. Flow cytometry was used for analyzing cell proliferation rate and apoptosis. The methylation status and expression of P15INK4B in mRNA and protein levels were measured by methylation-specifc polymerase chain reaction (PCR [MSP]). Apoptosis relative factors expression were detected by real-time transcription and Western blot. Result: Up-regulation of HO-1 by transfected it into SKM-1 cells via lenti-virus vector promoted proliferation and protected cells against apoptosis. In contrast, down-regulation of HO-1 enhanced decitabine-induced apoptosis but reduced accumulation of S phase in cell cycle. To explore the mechanism, we detected cell cycle relative protein expression after SKM-1 cells were treated by decitabine in each group. As a result, over-expression of p15 INK4B and CDK4 were observed in SKM-1 cells which HO-1 was inhibited. And p15 INK4B and CDK4 expression-dependent apoptosis was related to caspase3 pathway. Even though HO-1 was silenced, but apoptotic rate never increased as caspase3 pathway was blocked. Conclusion: As we known that p15 INK4B is a keypoint to regulate S phase of cell cycle, in our study, more obvious demethylation of p15 INK4B was seen in group of SKM-1 cells in which HO-1 was down-regulated. It’s equally in patients’ mononuclear cells who suffered from MDS. The worse the prognosis of MDS was judged, the more the mRNA level of HO-1 expressed. In conclusion, over-expression of HO-1 indicated resistance to demethylation of p15 INK4B induced by decitabine. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract The fact that the p16/INK4a and p15/INK4b genes are frequently inactivated in human malignancies and that p16/INK4a null mice spontaneously develop B-cell lymphomas prompted us to examine the status of both genes in Burkitt's Lymphoma (BL). We found a low frequency of p16/INK4a and p15/INK4b deletions and mutations in BL cell lines and biopsies. However, p16/INK4a exon 1 was methylated in 17 out of 19 BL lines (89.5%) and in 8 out of 19 BL biopsies (42%) analyzed. p15/INK4b Exon 1 was also methylated, although at a lower frequency. p16/INK4a mRNA was readily detected in BL lines carrying unmethylated p16/INK4a, but not in those carrying methylated p16/INK4a. No p16/INK4a protein was detected in any of the BL lines and biopsies examined. In contrast, only one out of seven lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) examined was methylated in p16/INK4a exon 1, and three out of the six LCLs with unmethylated p16/INK4a expressed detectable levels of p16/INK4a protein. Thus, the frequent p16/INK4a methylation in BL lines correlates with downregulation of p16/INK4a expression, suggesting that exon 1 methylation is responsible for silencing the p16/INK4a gene in BL.

The fact that the p16/INK4a and p15/INK4b genes are frequently inactivated in human malignancies and that p16/INK4a null mice spontaneously develop B-cell lymphomas prompted us to examine the status of both genes in Burkitt's Lymphoma (BL). We found a low frequency of p16/INK4a and p15/INK4b deletions and mutations in BL cell lines and biopsies. However, p16/INK4a exon 1 was methylated in 17 out of 19 BL lines (89.5%) and in 8 out of 19 BL biopsies (42%) analyzed. p15/INK4b Exon 1 was also methylated, although at a lower frequency. p16/INK4a mRNA was readily detected in BL lines carrying unmethylated p16/INK4a, but not in those carrying methylated p16/INK4a. No p16/INK4a protein was detected in any of the BL lines and biopsies examined. In contrast, only one out of seven lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) examined was methylated in p16/INK4a exon 1, and three out of the six LCLs with unmethylated p16/INK4a expressed detectable levels of p16/INK4a protein. Thus, the frequent p16/INK4a methylation in BL lines correlates with downregulation of p16/INK4a expression, suggesting that exon 1 methylation is responsible for silencing the p16/INK4a gene in BL.

To detect the blood genomic DNA methylation in coke oven workers and find a possible early screening index for occupational lung cancer, 74 coke oven workers as the exposed group and 47 water pump workers as the controls were surveyed, and urine samples and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected. Airborne benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) levels in workplace and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-Py) levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. DNA damage of PBMCs and the p14(ARK), p15(INK4b) and p16(INK4a) gene CpG island methylation in the promoter region were detected by comet assay and methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction techniques, respectively. Results show that compared with the controls, concentration of airborne B[a]Ps was elevated in the coke plant, and urinary 1-OH-Py’s level and DNA olive tail moment in comet assay were significantly increased in the coke oven workers, and p14(ARK), p15(INK4b) and p16(INK4a) gene methylation rates were also significantly increased. With the working years and urinary 1-OH-Py’s level, the rates of p14(ARK) and p16(INK4a) gene methylation were significantly increased while that of p15(INK4b) gene methylation displayed no statistical change. We conclude that PBMCs’ p14(ARK) and p16(INK4a) gene methylation may be used for screening and warning lung cancer in coke oven workers.

Abstract Fanconi anemia (FA) is an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome with multiple complementation groups, characterized by genomic instability and predisposition to MDS and AML. Recent evidence indicates that multiple FA proteins are involved in DNA repair. Thus, increased genetic damage and secondary dysregulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis are thought to play important roles in the development of bone marrow failure and subsequent progression to MDS/AML. However, little is known about molecular abnormalities responsible for these hematological disorders. Numerous studies indicated that epigenetic silencing of p15/INK4B, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of MDS and AML. In the present study, we examined methylation status of 5′ CpG islands of the p15 gene in bone marrow mononuclear cells of FA patients, using methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and combined bisulfite restriction analysis (COBRA). Bone marrow samples were analyzed in 10 patients and serially studied in 4 of them. Hypermethylation of the p15 promoter region was detected in 5 patients (50%). This group included 3 patients with MDS: FA28-1 with refractory anemia (RA), FA87 with RAEB (RA with excess of blasts), and FA88 with later development of RA and progression to RAEB; whereas myelodysplasia was not observed in 2 patients (FA89, FA90). In two cases (FA88, FA90), p15 hypermethylation became negative during their courses, perhaps because of decreased myeloid cells. On the other hand, none of 5 patients without p15 hypermethylation had MDS. These results suggest that p15 hypermethylation is associated with development of MDS and occurs in the early phase of clonal evolution in the disease. Methylation status of p15 may be a useful prognostic factor of FA. Patient Age at onset (year old) Time from onset (month) Cytopenia MDS Cytogenetic abnormalities p15 methylation MSP b p15 methylation COBRA c a siblings, b MSP: methylation specific PCR, c COBRA: combined bisulfite restriction analysis, d ND: not determined FA28-1a 5 128 severe RA − − + 133 severe RA − + ++ FA87 8 252 severe RAEB + + +++ FA88 5 31 moderate − − + +++ 45 severe RA + − − 58 severe RAEB + + + FA89 5 49 mild − − + + 56 severe − − + + FA90 2 2 mild − − + ++ 31 severe − − − − FA28-2a 5 51 mild − − − NDd FA28-3a 3 12 mild − − − NDd FA47 3 15 mild − − − NDd FA68 5 46 moderate − − − NDd FA91 5 129 mild − − − NDd

Abstract Introduction: Adding a methyl group on the cytosine residues of CpG dinucleotides (CpGs) is a basic phenomenon in DNA methylation. This modification belongs to a group of epigenetic changes that are thought to play one of the key roles in tumor development and progression. DNA hypermethylation occurs mainly in CpG islands of the promoter region in tumor-supressor (TS) genes, which leads to gene silencing. On the other hand, global DNA hypomethylation leads to a genomic instability. Many specific genes are epigenetically changed in individual malignant diseases and these genes are intensively studied by the scientific community. According to the recent research in plasma cell neoplasms, the global genic hypomethylation is predominant in contrast to hypermethylation events. Epigenetic changes of TS genes may worsen prognosis, drug response and microenvironment interaction in multiple myeloma patients. Our aim was to assess the methylation level of the RIL and p15INK4b gene. RIL protein acts as suppressor of cell proliferation and it sensitizes tumor cells to apoptosis, on the other hand, the p15 INK4bplays an important role in inhibiting the cell cycle progression in G1 phase. Methods: Our updated study includes 72 bone marrow aspirate-samples from 68 patients with multiple myeloma (MM) or monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). 68 samples were acquired at the time of the diagnosis and four patients with MM were assessed also in remission after chemotherapy. Extracted DNA after bisulfite modification was examined by pyrosequencing method (Pyromark Q96, Qiagen, Germany) and the selected gene regions – RIL promotor, p15INK4b promotor and p15 INK4b exon were analysed. Nine CpGs in the RIL promoter, thirteen CpGs in the p15INK4b promoter and sixteen CpGs in the p15INK4bexon were studied. Average methylation level (MtL) was generated and samples were sorted according to the mean MtL (%) into four groups for the RIL gene (less than 10% MtL, 11-19% MtL, 21-50% and more than 50%). We used commercially available unmethylated DNA and methylated DNA control. Statistical analysis was performed using Pyromark Software and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Results: Out of the four groups for the methylation level of the RIL gene promoter, the groups with 11-19% MtL and 21-50% MtL, detected significant and highly significant differences respectively at both p-values - p-value ≤0.05 and p-value ≤0.01. There were only 2 samples with MtL level over 50% in patients with active MM, precluding valid statistical analysis. In both regions of the p15 INK4b gene, i.e. the promoter and the exon, we did not find any significant differences between the methylation levels - mean MtL ranged from 3% to 6% in p15INK4b promotor and from 3% to 12% in p15 INK4b exon. The time-dependend analysis of the DNA methylation level changes in four patients assessed at the time of diagnosis and in remission of the disease after chemotherapy course revealed a significant decrease of CpGs methylation in all MM patients reaching therapeutic response. Conclusions: Updated data on the epigenetic analysis in patients with monoclonal gammopathies confirmed an important role of the RIL gene in the epigenetic network acting in pathogenesis of MM. The presented results suggest possible prognostic value and therapeutic target in patients with MM. In contrast, the p15 INK4b gene known as a frequent focus of epigenetic modifications in many tumors, did not show statistically significant differences in our study. Our results indicate that for DNA methylation analyses of MM or MGUS patients, the RIL gene could be more useful marker than the p15 INK4b gene. Moreover, the decrease of the methylation level in patients undergoing systemic chemotherapy might be associated with treatment response, suggesting its potential prognostic value. The paper was supported by the grant IGA MZ CR NT14393. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract The tumor suppressor INK4B(p15) gene is silenced by CpG island hypermethylation in a majority of acute myeloid leukemias (AML). This silencing can be reversed by the treatment with hypomethylating agents, and these agents are currently being tested for therapeutic intervention. So far, it was not investigated whether or not the INK4B is hypermethylated in all cytogenetic subtypes of AML. Our experiments, which compare levels of INK4B methylation in AML with inv(16), t(8:21) and t(15;17) reveal a strikingly low level of methylation in all leukemias with inv(16). This contrasts with significant levels of DNA methylation in a high proportion of the AML from the other two groups. Surprisingly, even though there is a lack of INK4B methylation in samples from patients with inv(16), expression of the gene is very low when compared to that of PBL from healthy individuals or HL60 cells. Subsequent experiments uncovered a novel mechanism to explain the low level of INK4B expression in the inv(16) AMLs. Overexpression of the aberrant chromosome 16-associated gene CBFb-MYH11 in U937 cells results in failure to induce INK4B in response to vitamin D3. Furthermore, CBFb-SMMHC, encoded by CBFb-MYH11 directly represses transcription from an INK4B promoter in a reporter assay. Electromobility shift assays in the AML-derived cell line ME-1 and U937 cells expressing the fusion gene demonstrate that the repression is due to a change in the composition of the complexes recognizing the binding sites for the transcription regulator CBF. In conclusion, we have found that methylation is not the only way to induce silencing of the tumor suppressor p15INK4B in AML. In inv(16)-containing AML, loss of gene expression is accomplished by the direct transcriptional repressor activity of CBFβ-SMMHC.

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder that results in β-cell dysfunction and ultimate destruction, and leads to impaired glucose homeostasis. High rates of proliferation and differentiation of pancreatic β-cells occurs mostly during neonatal development. However, research shows these mechanisms remain intact as β-cell proliferation has been observed during pregnancy and obesity. We have shown that overexpression of the β-cell transcription factor Nkx6.1 is sufficient to induce β-cell proliferation. Exploration of the transcriptional targets of Nkx6.1 has identified histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) as a down-stream target of Nkx6.1. Here we demonstrate that HDAC1 overexpression is sufficient to induce β-cell proliferation, enhance β-cell survival upon exposure to apoptotic stimuli and maintains glucose stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). Our data suggests overexpression of HDAC1 leads to p15/INK4b suppression, a cell cycle inhibitor, potentially explaining the mechanism behind these observed effects. These data demonstrate that HDAC1 overexpression is sufficient to induce β-cell proliferation and enhance cell survival while maintaining glucose stimulated insulin secretion.

We attempted to define target genes that were inactivated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by DNA methylation. We hypothesized that hypermethylation of 51 CpG islands is associated with transcriptional silencing of the corresponding gene and participates in either the emergence of drug resistance or the conversion of normal cells to cancer cells. To test this hypothesis the DNA methylation status of the 5' CpG islands of dCK containing 49 CpGs, p15 containing 80 CpGs, and p16 containing 53 CpGs was determined by sodium bisulfite sequencing of normal human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and bone marrow (NBM), human leukemia cell lines, and cytosine-arabinoside (ara-C)-resistant adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. In PBL and NBM dCK, p15, and p16 were all unmethylated. dCK was unmethylated in the paired ara-C-sensitive (/S) ara-C-resistant (/R) leukemia cell lines HL60/S & /R and K562/S & /R, and in the 8 AML patients analyzed. p16 was unmethylated in KG-l and KG-1a and both had detectable p16 mRNA and protein. None of the 8 AML patients had aberrant methylation of p16. For p15, a variegated pattern of aberrant methylation was found in KG-1, and complete methylation of p15 was found in KG-1a. The variegated pattern of p15 methylation seen in KG-1 and the complete methylation seen in KG-1a were both associated with no detectable p15 mRNA or protein. p15 was aberrantly methylated in 6 of the 8 AML patients, 5 had a variegated pattern of methylation, and 1 showed complete methylation. We next introduced ectopic p15 and p16 into the p15 and p16 negative human T-cell lymphocytic leukemia cell line Jurkat. The p15 positive clones grew at a slower rate than the parent cell or p16 positive clones as measured by growth in liquid culture and MTS assay. cDNA microarray expression analysis differentiated p15 and p16 positive subclones from the parent cell line but not from each other. This suggests that despite the selective methylation of p15 but not p16 in AML, p15 and p16 are functionally similar.