Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P04637 (p53)
 77,613 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Werner syndrome (WS) is characterized by the early onset of symptoms of premature aging, cancer, and genomic instability. The molecular basis of the defects is not understood but presumably relates to the DNA helicase and exonuclease activities of the protein encoded by the WRN gene that is mutated in the disease. The attenuation of p53-mediated apoptosis in WS cells and reported physical interaction between WRN and the tumor suppressor p53 suggest that p53 and WRN functionally interact in a pathway necessary for the normal cellular response. In this study, we have demonstrated that p53 inhibits the exonuclease activity of the purified full-length recombinant WRN protein. p53 did not have an effect on a truncated amino-terminal WRN fragment that retains exonuclease activity but lacks the physical interaction domain for p53 located in the carboxyl terminus. Two naturally occurring p53 mutants found in human cancer displayed a reduced ability to inhibit WRN exonuclease activity. In cells arrested in S phase with hydroxyurea, WRN exits the nucleolus and colocalizes with p53 in the nucleoplasm. The regulation of WRN function by p53 is likely to play an important role in the maintenance of genomic integrity and prevention of cancer and other clinical symptoms associated with WS.
 ...
PMID:p53 Modulates the exonuclease activity of Werner syndrome protein. 1142 32

Bloom syndrome (BS) is characterized by premature aging and high predisposition to various types of cancer. BLM is the causative gene for BS. BLM functions as a DNA helicase in the direction of 3' to 5' and small subsets of telomeres colocalize with BLM protein. We investigated telomerase activity and telomere repeat length in the cells from BS patients. In Epstein-Barr-virus (EBV) transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines and lymphoma cells from BS patients, telomerase activity was detected as in the control and compared. The metastatic tumor from BS patient, which had a 9-bp deletion of p53 DNA showed the strongest telomerase activity. Telomere repeat length in BS cells showed that there is no large difference compared with normal cells. Collectively, the results show that the BLM gene is not a major structural and regulatory factor in maintaining telomere repeat length and telomerase activity.
 ...
PMID:Telomerase activity in cell lines and lymphoma originating from Bloom syndrome. 1169 6

The tumor suppressor p53 is critical in preventing cancer due to its ability to trigger proliferation arrest and cell death upon the occurrence of a variety of stresses, most notably, DNA damage and oncogenic stress. Here, we report the generation and characterization of mice carrying supernumerary copies of the p53 gene in the form of large genomic transgenes. Prior to this, we demonstrate that the p53 transgenic allele (p53-tg), when present in a p53-null genetic background, behaves as a functional replica of the endogenous gene. "Super p53" mice, carrying p53-tg alleles in addition to the two endogenous alleles, exhibit an enhanced response to DNA damage. Importantly, "super p53" mice are significantly protected from cancer when compared with normal mice. Finally, in contrast to previously reported mice with constitutively active p53, "super p53" mice do not show any indication of premature aging, probably reflecting the fact that p53 is under normal regulatory control. Together, our results prove that cancer resistance can be enhanced by a simple genetic modification and in the absence of undesirable effects.
 ...
PMID:"Super p53" mice exhibit enhanced DNA damage response, are tumor resistant and age normally. 1242 94

Increased p53 expression under the endogenous promoter protects "super p53" mice from tumorigenesis without the undesirable effects of premature aging.
 ...
PMID:p53: regular or super? 1249 11

The incidence of cancer increases with age in humans and in laboratory animals alike. There are different patterns of age-related distribution of tumors in different organs and tissues. Aging may increase of decrease the susceptibility of various tissues to initiation of carcinogenesis and usually facilitates promotion and progression of carcinogenesis. Aging may predispose to cancer by several mechanisms: 1) tissue accumulation of cells in late stages of carcinogenesis; 2) alterations in homeostasis, in particular, alterations in immune and endocrine system and 3) telomere instability linking aging and increased cancer risk. Increased susceptibility to the effects of tumor promoters is found both in aged animals and aged humans, as predicted by the multistage model of carcinogenesis. Available evidence supporting the relevance of replicative senescence of human cells and telomere biology to human cancer seems quite strong, however the evidence linking cellular senescence to human aging is controversial and required additional studies. Some common genetic processes (e.g. telomere dysfunction, changes in p53 and Rb activity and in DNA repair, accumulation of DNA lesions, genomic instability) play a critical role both in carcinogenesis and aging. Data on the acceleration of aging by carcinogenic agents as well as on increased cancer risk in patients with premature aging are critically discussed. In genetically modified mouse models (transgenic, knockout or mutant) characterized by the aging delay the incidence of tumors usually similar to those in controls, whereas the latent period of tumor development is increased. Practically all models of accelerated of aging in genetically modified animals show the increase in the incidence and the decline in the latency of tumors. Strategies for cancer prevention must include not only measures to minimize exposure to exogenous carcinogenic agents, but also measures to normalize the age-related alterations in internal milieu. Life-span prolonging drugs (geroprotectors) and genetic modifications may either postpone population aging and increase of tumor latency or decrease the mortality in long-living individuals in populations and inhibit carcinogenesis. At least some geroprotectors and modifications may increase the survival of a short-living individuals in populations but increase the incidence of malignancy.
 ...
PMID:[Aging and carcinogenesis]. 1257 99

Premature aging of the skin (photoaging) is a well-documented consequence of exposure to ultraviolet-A (UVA). Enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species and induction of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) appear to be the most important components of UVA-modulated signal transduction pathways, ultimately leading to photoaging. In this study, we investigated the effects of asiatic acid and ursolic acid, triterpene compounds, on the UVA-modulated signaling pathways using HaCaT human keratinocytes as a model cellular system. In the cells, we confirmed that UVA irradiation induced oxidative stress and increased the expression of MMP-2. Asiatic acid and ursolic acid significantly suppressed the UVA-induced reactive oxygen species production and lipid peroxidation. Pretreatment with asiatic acid or ursolic acid significantly reduced the UVA-induced activation and expression of MMP-2. In addition, UVA-induced enhanced expression of p53, a hallmark of UV-induced DNA damage and cell death, was also significantly inhibited by pretreatment with asiatic acid or ursolic acid. Taken together, these results suggest that asiatic acid and ursolic acid may be an effective inhibitor of UVA-modulated signal transduction pathways in human skin cells. These results further suggest that these agents may be useful in the prevention of UVA-induced photoaging.
 ...
PMID:Inhibition of ultraviolet-A-modulated signaling pathways by asiatic acid and ursolic acid in HaCaT human keratinocytes. 1296 63

The author discusses a recent paper published in Nature that shows that a hyperactive allele of the tumor suppressor p53 leads to the development of some premature aging phenotypes in mice. This new discovery is discussed in light of previous findings related to mechanisms of aging.
 ...
PMID:Cancer and aging: yin, yang, and p53. 1460 74

Premature aging of the skin is a prominent side-effect of psoralen photoactivation, a therapy used for different skin disorders. Recently, we demonstrated that treatment of fibroblasts with 8-methoxypsoralen and ultraviolet A irradiation resulted in growth arrest with morphological and functional changes reminiscent of replicative senescence. To further elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, we analysed the cell-cycle phases of the growth-arrested fibroblasts. After PUVA treatment, fibroblasts arrested in G2/M, in contrast to spontaneously senesced fibroblasts arresting in a cell-cycle phase with many features similar to G1. To address the role of the cell-cycle controlling genes p16(INK4a), p21(CIP1) and p53, we analysed the expression of these genes. p16(INK4a), p21(CIP1) and p53 protein levels increased substantially with different time kinetics in growth-arrested fibroblasts. Because p16(INK4a), p21(CIP1) and p53 are involved in replicative senescence, we applied the PUVA regimen to fibroblasts deficient in either of these genes. p16(INK4a), p21(CIP1) and p53 null mutant fibroblast strains underwent growth arrest with a senescent phenotype similar to wild-type human fibroblasts. Based on these results, we propose that redundant or alternate pathways are involved in the response of dermal fibroblasts to PUVA treatment resulting in a phenocopy of replicative senescence in vitro.
 ...
PMID:Long-term growth arrest of PUVA-treated fibroblasts in G2/M in the absence of p16(INK4a) p21(CIP1) or p53. 1470 4

Period (Per) genes are key circadian rhythm regulators in mammals. Expression of mouse Per (mPer) genes has a diurnal pattern in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and in peripheral tissues. Genetic ablation mPER1 and mPER2 function results in a complete loss of circadian rhythm control based on wheel-running activity in mice. In addition, these animals also display apparent premature aging and a significant increase in neoplastic and hyperplastic phenotypes. When challenged by gamma radiation, mPer2-deficient mice respond by rapid hair graying, are deficient in p53-mediated apoptosis in thymocytes, and have robust tumor occurrences. Studies have demonstrated that the circadian clock function is very important for cell cycle, DNA damage response, and tumor suppression in vivo. The temporal expression of genes involved in cell cycle regulation and tumor suppression, such as c-Myc, Cyclin D1, Cyclin A, Mdm-2, and Gadd45alpha, is deregulated in mPer2 mutant mice. Genetic studies have demonstrated that many key regulators of cell cycle and growth control are also important circadian clock regulators, confirming the critical role of circadian function in organismal homeostasis.
 ...
PMID:The circadian clock and tumor suppression by mammalian period genes. 1581 28

Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by progressive ataxia, elevated cancer incidence, and premature aging. A-T cells, Atm-deficient mice, and individuals with A-T show increased oxidant sensitivity, genomic instability, altered IGF-1 and p53 signaling, and rapid telomere shortening compared to normal controls. The gene mutated in A-T, ATM, regulates DNA repair, IGF-1 and p53 signaling, age pigment removal, antioxidant capacity, and telomere maintenance - pathways involved in and often attenuated with aging. Interestingly, flavonoids with chemopreventative effects, such as quercetin, genistein, and epigallocatechin gallate activate ATM. Since ATM activates pathways which increase genomic stability, oxidant resistance, and/or telomere stability, and since many diseases of old age (i.e., cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disease), result from attenuation of these pathways, pharmacologic manipulation of ATM activity via flavonoid intake may prove useful in slowing the appearance of age-associated disease.
 ...
PMID:Pharmacologic manipulation of the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene product as an intervention in age-related disease. 1592 13


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>