Regulation of P53 stability in p53 mutated human and mouse hepatoma cells

The tumor suppressor p53 is frequently mutated in cancer. We have investigated the regulation of P53 in p53 wild type mouse hepatoma cells (line 55.1c), in p53 heterozygeously mutated cells (56.1b) and in p53 defective cells (lines 56.1d, 70.4 and HUH7) under various experimental settings. The basal levels of P53 were low in 55.1c cells, but nuclear accumulation occurred upon UV‐irradiation. Similarly, UV‐exposure induced stabilization of P53 in the heterozygeously p53 mutated 56.1b hepatoma cells. By contrast, the 3 hepatoma lines, which lack transcriptionally active P53, demonstrated high basal nuclear concentrations of P53 protein and, unexpectedly, showed loss of P53 upon UV‐irradiation. Expression of p53 mRNA was also decreased in p53 defective cells after 24 hr post UV‐irradiation, which may be linked to induction of apoptosis of the irradiated cells under these conditions. Other stressors like H2O2 also mediated a decrease in P53 concentration in p53 defective cells. This effect occurred at very low concentrations and was already detectable 1–2 hr after exposure of cells. There were no signs of apoptosis of H2O2‐exposed cells at this time point and no significant changes in p53 mRNA or MDM2 level. These unexpected findings indicate a new aspect related to regulation of P53 stability in cells with a defect in the tumor suppressor protein. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.