Inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases induce features of replicative senescence in early passage human diploid fibroblasts

After a limited number of population doublings (PDs), cultures of normal mammalian diploid cells undergo an irreversible growth arrest known as replicative senescence [1]. As well as contributing to cellular ageing, senescence is viewed as an important mechanism of tumour suppression by preventing the emergence of Immortal cell clones [2-4]. Senescent cells have a number of characteristics that distinguish them from cycling or quiescent cells including elevated levels of two cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitors, p16(INK4a) and p21(CIP1) [5-11]. Here, we demonstrate that both of these Cdk inhibitors, as well as other members of their protein families (the INK4 and CIP/KIP families, respectively [12]), induce several facets of the senescent phenotype when ectopically expressed in young human diploid fibroblasts. These include a reduced proliferative capacity, an altered size and shape, the presence of underphosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (pRb), increased expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) and the appearance of senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-beta-gal) activity [2,3,13-15]. A 20 amino acid peptide from p16(INK4a) that inhibits Cdks active in the G1 phase of the cell cycle [16] produces similar effects in a dose-dependent manner suggesting that, in primary fibroblasts, inhibition of G1-specific Cdk activity is sufficient to induce phenotypic changes that normally occur at the end of their finite lifespan. (C) Current Biology Ltd ISSN 0960-9822.