Laboratory of Radiobiology, Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, U.S.A.

Correspondence: John B. Little, MD, Department of Cancer Cell Biology, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, U.S.A. Email: jlittle@hsph.harvard.edu

Received 13 June 2002; Revised 9 August 2002; Accepted 26 August 2002.

Abstract

We previously described a genetically unstable human fibroblast cell strain (GM2995), isolated from normal appearing skin of a xeroderma pigmentosum group C patient that repeatedly underwent changes characteristic of the transformed phenotype upon serial cultivation in vitro. In order to gain information concerning genetic changes associated with the transformation of this xeroderma pigmentosum group C cell strain, we examined the expression/function of several cell cycle regulators during its serial cultivation. A mutation in exon 8 of the P53 gene was associated with loss of function of the p53 protein and appeared at about the same time that transformation occurred. Abnormal P53 function was confirmed by the lack of upregulation of p53 as well as activation of its downstream effectors p21^Waf1 and HDM2 in high passage cells exposed to either irradiation or ultraviolet C irradiation. Consistent with deregulation in cell cycle control, persistent hyper-phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein and lack of a decrease in p34^cdc2 were observed in irradiated cells. Furthermore, retinoblastoma protein remained hyperphosphorylated in control high passage confluent cultures that were serum starved for 72 h. Compared with low passage cells, the expression levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27^Kip1 were significantly reduced and the pattern of expression of the von Hippel-Lindau protein was aberrant. These data indicate that the process of cellular transformation of this xeroderma pigmentosum group C cell strain involves the progressive acquisition of mutations and abnormalities in the expression/function of several cell cycle regulators.