p53 but not p16(INK4a) induces growth arrest retinoblastoma-deficient hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Background/Aim: Both p16(INK4a) and p53 proteins are negative regulators of the cell cycle. In human hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), the loss of function of p53, retinoblastoma (pRb) and p16(INK4a) genes by different mechanisms has been largely documented, but their hepatocellular effects are poorly known. We compared the growth-inhibitory effects of p16(INK4a)and p53 proteins in Hep3B cell line-derived clones. Methods: Cells were transfected with inducible p16(INK4a) and p53 expression vectors, and stable clones were analyzed for transgene expression by Western blotting and immunoperoxidase staining. Effects on cell growth were analyzed by in vitro growth assay, thymidine incorporation and flow cytometry. Biochemical effects of p53 were tested by Northern blotting of p21(Cip1) transcripts and by Western blotting of p21(Cip1) mdm-2, bax, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 and cyclin E proteins. The pRb protein was studied by Western blotting and immnunoprecipitation assays. Results: The induction of p16(INK4a) protein expression did not affect in vitro growth of cells. In contrast, p53 protein in its wild-type conformation provoked a growth arrest accompanied by transactivation of p21(Cip1) gene and accumulation of p21(Cip1), bax and mdm-2 proteins, p53-induced growth arrest was due to a cell cycle arrest at the GI/S transition, probably mediated by p21(Cip1) protein, which inhibits cyclin-dependent kinase 2/cyclin E complexes. Conclusions: The lack of detectable pRb protein and resistance of cells to p16(INK4a) strongly suggest that p53 is able to arrest the growth of HCC cells by a mechanism independent of 'p53-retinoblastoma pathway'. These findings are applicable to HCC with abberrations of both p53 and pRb genes, and may not represent the universal effects of p53 in hepatic cells.