Direct evidence from siRNA-directed “knock down” that p16INK4a is required for human fibroblast senescence and for limiting ras-induced epithelial cell proliferation

The selective pressure for disruption of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p16INK4a in human cancer has been postulated to reflect its role in mediating growth arrest, both in response to telomere erosion (replicative senescence) and to oncogene-induced and other “stress” signals. Given the known species-specific differences in regulation of senescence, we have tested this hypothesis in human, as opposed to rodent, cells by designing a small interfering RNA (siRNA) to knock down p16INK4a expression. Transfection of this siRNA into late-passage normal human diploid fibroblasts allowed at least temporary escape from entry into replicative senescence. Furthermore, in our in vitro model of early-stage, RAS-induced thyroid tumorigenesis, sequential transfections with this siRNA allowed outgrowth of small clusters of proliferating epithelial cells, consistent with escape from the spontaneous “senescence”, which normally curtails their proliferative response to mutant RAS. These data provide the first direct evidence that p16INK4a is necessary for the initiation of both telomere-dependent and telomere-independent senescence in human cells.